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The G7 of the province of

G7: The city The G7 is what makes Groningen, Groningen. The city of Groningen is a relatively young city with a character entirely of its own. A city where the pubs And in this view we do not mean the accepted never close and the Italian architecture holds prefer- great attractions, but also the less obvious ence. In 2005, the city of Groningen was pronounced ‘Beste Binnenstad van Nederland’ (best inner city of the elements that make the province of Groningen ). The Groningen city centre was praised for what it is: Groningen. its versatility, high quality infrastructure, great acces- sibility, hospitality and security. The jury also praised the service level of the retail sector, the action ‘Schoon,

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Heel en Veilig’ (clean, whole and safe), the StadsVitrine star-shaped battlements have protected the town against Service (city showcase service), the Huiskamerteam (living attacks. Nowadays, Bourtange is a lively and cosy town that room team), the title Veiligste Stad 2004 (safest city 2004) has been brought back to its original state. The buildings and the cctv-surveillance. surrounded by the characteristic network of canals and Groningen is surrounded by and connected with water. This waterfronts house historic shops, four museums and various is obvious, everywhere. Wonderful warehouses that show restaurants. You can even rent a hotel room in one of the a link with the trading history, the Scheepvaartmuseum former soldiers’ barracks or the coach-house. Regularly, (shipping museum), works of art underneath the bridges fi eld battles are re-enacted in Bourtange. and much more. Boating, canoeing, cruising the canals by boat, waterbiking, shipping museum, food, terrace, …. the G7: Borgen Hanze city of Groningen is an excellent base of activities to ‘Borgen’ are the beautiful manorial estates of the squires discover the city as well as the province by water. from past centuries. Because the squires often intermar- ried, several ‘borgen’ were owned by one family. Now, the G7: Lauwersmeer ‘borgen’ became too expensive to maintain, came into In 1969 the Lauwerszee (Lauwers sea) was closed off and disrepair and were eventually destructed. From the about nature has transformed this area to what it is now: National 180 ‘borgen’ and ‘steenhuizen’ there once were, only 16 Park Lauwersmeer. Recently, the area was pronounced the have (partly) survived. The three best-known - and that can second most beautiful site in the Netherlands! still be visited - are the Fraeylemaborg in Slochteren, the The National Park Lauwersmeer consists for a large part of Menkemaborg in Uithuizen and the borg Verhildersum in water. Here, watersports lovers have so much space at their Leens. disposal that even during the high season the boating is very good. You can moor at one of the four marinas or at one G7: Wierden of the special jetties and recreation islands. Two compa- Wierden are artifi cally created embankments in the prov- nies offer boat cruises for a refreshing incentive or meeting inces of and Groningen. In Friesland they are break. Or visit the beaches of Lauwersoog to enjoy the wind called ‘terpen’. The ‘wierden’ had a height that varied from through your hair. 1 to 5 meters, and had a maximum length of 250 meters. A extensive network of footpaths and hiking trails runs In total, there have been about 600 in Groningen. Between through lands where the reed waves in the wind, along 500 BC and 1000 AD, the ‘wierden’ served as protection beautiful fi elds where orchids blossom, and through young against fl oodings. forests. The real go-getter cycles the 45 kilometers around Often, farms and dwellings were built on the ‘wierden’, and the Lauwers lake, the so-called ‘Rondje Lauwersmeer’. But this way, a so-called ‘wierdendorp’ (village) could come into you can also make less demanding, but still great bicycle being. Because of the gradual construction of dikes along tours on the many cycle tracks. the Waddenkust after the year 1000, the ‘wierden’ became obsolete and were often levelled. In places where this was G7: Pieterburen not done, the village church was often situated on the high- Pieterburen is mainly known as the seal village because of est point of the ‘wierde’. the nursery run by Lenie ’t Hart, but it is also the starting If you wish to actively get to know the ‘wierden’ landscape, point of the Pieterpad (Pieter path, runs from the northern- you can make the cycling route ‘Vijftien (15) Wierden’. most tip of the Netherlands to its southermost point) and This 30-kilometer route takes you along various ‘wierden’, walking tours on the so-called wadden (areas that fall dry ancient medieval dikes, farms, churches and villages. during ebb). In the seal nursery Lenie ’t Hart and her staff care for dis- G7: Churches eased and weakened seals. Visitors can learn everything The province and city of Groningen have many age-old about seals in the visitors’ center where there is a permanent churches from the roman, late-roman and gothic architec- exhibition and a video show, as well as enjoy a guided tour tural periods. The oldest churches were built in the 11th cen- on the premises. tury. These churches are major, distinctive elements in the Walking on the sea – ‘wadlopen’– remains a sensational Groningen landscape. Apart from regular church services, experience. A short walk or a longer one to the island of the churches are often used for concerts and exhibitions. Schiermonnikoog, the Groningen Wadden coast is an excel- Many churches are open to the public, you can often get the lent starting point for muddy pleasure. key from the neighbors and walk right in.

G7: Bourtange Bourtange is an old fortifi cation in the eastern part of Groningen that is restored to its former glory. For ages, the

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