EN EXPLORE GRONINGEN CITY AND PROVINCE off the beaten track U C L D I N N I G ! 3 S E B T E A U U O 3 T R I F L U UP TO REGIONAL RURAL THE DYKE PRODUCE IDYLL launch into space here producers in the countryside the Ommeland 35⁰ 12’ 56” N 6⁰ 48’ 34” E 2 INDEX GRONINGEN, Map of the province A WELL-KEPT 78 Regional produce 10 Producers in the countryside SECRET FOR The Explorers; townspeople on MANY the Hogeland 84 � Oosterhouw Proudly produced � Enne Jans Heerd in Groningen The city and province of Groningen have Pure, ethical and sustainable so much to offer - from the boundless energy of museums, festivals and shops, 22 The countryside to the peace and quiet of almshouses and 86 gardens behind gates. This is where you as a stage Hongerige Wolf Explore can venture out on the seabed on foot, or the borgen enter the impregnable Bourtange fortress. Estate houses Let us take you on an exploratory 34 expedition that includes places of Off the A round trip interest, various routes and detours to beaten track through Groningen; take in city highlights and great places In and around the city > A church tour p.18 out of the centre. Visit beautiful villages > Along the Reitdiep p.54 near the city. All of these are places to > Through the Veenkoloniën find silence and tranquillity, let go of 42 peat district p.70 old ideas and allow new ones in. And Westerwolde let’s not forget the Groningen special region producers, who proudly create their Drenthe countryside that Coordinates merchandise with plenty of love for ended up in Groningen Five iconic places in Groningen. We will provide their land. Some places are a slightly you with the coordinates. It’s longer bike ride away, but you might get up to you to do the exploring. lucky and have the wind at your back. 48 Up to the dyke � Nieuwe Statenzijl � Bokum Tips > 11 x space p.8 > 11 x city p.28 > 11 x countryside p.40 62 > 11 x heritage p.60 Rural idyll > 11 x regional produce p.76 34 STAD 1 1 2 3 7 2 1 16 5 2 31 1 2 3 5 10 3 GRID GRID GR 6 5 12 ALMSHOUSES CITY SO DARK YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING IN THE NIGHT SKY 53° 24’ 25.4” N, 6° 11’ 5 1.6” E groningen 11 x space — — — ‘T ROEGWOLD On the water In the city Darkness Whisper boat Almshouses Dark Sky Park Rent a whisper boat to enjoy There was a time when If you would like to experience 11 TIMES the silence as you sail through almshouses in Groningen city true darkness, you really should the countryside. Hear those provided housing to the poor, check out the Lauwersmeer tiny birds in the reed and the the widowed and the sick. Dark Sky Park. Far away SPACE murmuring water and enjoy the Today, these quiet courtyards from any artificial sources of lovely Groningen countryside. are homes of individuals light, this is where it gets so - marenland.nl who relish the peace and dark at night that you see Step into the Groningen space. It’s close by, just look — quiet of these city oases. everything in the night sky. around. Behind a city gate, on a monastery bench, or with Sleeping outdoors Some courtyards are open - visitgroningen.com/dark-sky your feet in the clay of one of many extensive polders. This is During the evening to visitors that wish to enjoy where you can let go of old ideas and allow new ones in. What could possibly beat a little quiet contemplation. sleeping in the countryside Past residents may well have under the starry sky? Avond- done the very same, under the uren is an accommodating very same trees! Courtyard yet adventurous initiative tour guides are available by experienced outdoor at the Groningen Store. NOORDPOLDERZIJL — — — instructors. - avond-uren.nl - groningenstore.nl Walking Activities Fresh air AVOND-UREN ‘t Roegwold Yoga on the flats Noordpolderzijl One of the most frequently The boat trip to the flats and This is the perfect place for photographed places in the yoga class bring you taking in some fresh North Sea Groningen is the Knuppelpad into contact with yourself air, during a brisk walk on the in ’t Roegwold near and the elements. Who dyke, a ramble across the mud Schildwolde. The wooden knows, you might even flats or a view of the shallows. deck path through the rugged spot a few seals stretching Afterwards, stop at the striking swamp forest takes you out in the sun as well. ’t Zielhoes pub for a drink at the 750 metres into the area. - meergroningen.nl outdoor café, or huddle around - staatsbosbeheer.nl — the warm round iron stove. — Back in time - zielhoes.nl Creativity Klooster Ter Apel — Kunsterf Warempel For centuries, monks worked, Cycling Workshops and creative prayed and lived with North-eastern polders KLOOSTER holidays at the Kunsterf inspiration in the Ter Apel A large part of the province of TER APEL Warempel space in monastery – a large impressive Groningen used to be under Grootegast are sure to red brick building surrounded water, or was flooded too ALMSHOUSES awaken your inner artist. by deciduous forests. This often for it to be of much use. - kunsterfwarempel.nl is still a magical place, and The solution of Groningen — if only the walls could talk. residents was to roll up their Spa Of 34 medieval monasteries sleeves, reclaim the land and Bad Nieuweschans and convents in Groningen, dyke it in. Take in the extensive On a cold and bleak day, relax this was the last one to be horizon of the deceptively flat YOGA and enjoy the warmth of the established. Today, it’s the countryside during a bicycle ON THE Bad Nieuweschans thermal only one left that can still be ride through the north-eastern FLATS bath or saunas. recognised as a monastery. polders of Groningen. - thermenbadnieuweschans.nl - kloosterterapel.nl - visitgroningen.com/polders 8 9 groningen The explorers THE EXPLORERS Text: Chris Zwart TOWNSPEOPLE ON THE HOGELAND To many, rural Groningen may sound who has lost his heart to the Hogeland like an unknown and faraway place, area, or Mayke Zandstra, who lives at but people who visit run a risk of being the beautiful Enne Jans Heerd farm instantly smitten with the region and with her partner. What exactly is it that its villages. Whether they hail from makes Groningen so very special, and the Randstad or the city of Groningen, what should you really see, taste and many find themselves affected by its experience here? Wilbert and Mayke charm. Take Wilbert van de Kamp, are happy to share their story. 10 11 groningen The explorers THE HOGELAND IS A PLACE YOU SHOULD EXPLORE FOR YOURSELF When Wilbert van de Kamp (31) ‘Oosterhouw is a special house. I SPACE FOR YOU gets the opportunity to live in the welcomed about two thousand visitors TO CLEAR YOUR HEAD monumental house Oosterhouw in to the activities I held at the historical ‘The Hogeland beats Tuscany in summer Leens for a year in 2016, he embraces residence in the year I lived there – all any time. The waving grain in the fields it. He was fed up with the rush of life of them people who would otherwise all around is just such a lovely sight. Even in Amsterdam. The Hogeland wasn’t never have come. Books and plays when it’s busy with tourists, it doesn’t unknown territory for him, but thanks were written here, videos recorded and feel crowded at all. The area literally to Oosterhouw, he got to know it even weddings held too. It was also the venue provides space to let you clear your better. And he fell in love with it. for the Zwarte Zielen Festival; a festival head and welcome new thoughts.’ for those suffering from depression. Oosterhouw was the perfect location THE BEGINNING OF for this, because it is an old house. If the THE NETHERLANDS walls could talk, the tales they could ‘The dyke near Kloosterburen tell. During the festival, there was a features lovely salt marshes. You great atmosphere of high spirits, and may not be aware of the fact that the the photos only show people smiling.’ entire Hogeland area was once sea. I sometimes take a group of people up the dyke with Ale 'CLIMB THE CHURCH TOWER OF Havenga of the Landgoud farm. He always asks them to look HORNHUIZEN, FROM THERE YOU at the sea and describe where they are. People usually respond with something like: ‘At the end of the Netherlands.’ Ale will CAN SEE A PANORAMIC VIEW OF ask them to turn around, saying: ‘No, look, this is actually the THE ENTIRE HOGELAND AREA beginning of the Netherlands.’ AND THE SEA' AN AREA WITH MUCH TO OFFER ‘I love to visit the WaddenMax farm in Hornhuizen, where they sell this amazingly good dairy produce. They also have a which makes it just such a special place to visit. It also very small and cold pool where you can swim. Not many know makes visitors likely to ask people where to go, as a result about it, but feel free to ask them if you can take a dip in it. The of which they find out much more. So feel free to walk up Hornhuizen church tower – with a panoramic view of the entire to a farmer for a chat; chances are you will get a guided Hogeland area and the sea – is highly recommended.