10x surprising dates in Groningen

Valentine's Day is coming up. Time for romance. But who says you only celebrate love on 14 February? Whether you are just getting to know someone or have been together for years, Groningen is bursting with surprising dates you can explore all year round. From creative clubbing and sniffing culture together to an evening at the theatre or actively exploring the city. So pull your sweetheart by the arm and let yourself be surprised. Fall in love with your date for the first time or all over again.

Get creative with your sweetheart

Making something together is just more fun than just having a drink. At Artsy Avenue, paint a mug or other piece of pottery that will remind you of this date later. Or at Favourites Tufting, go wild together with a tufting gun and create a fluffy piece of art for your wall. Prefer relaxing crafts with coffee within reach? Studio Boter is the place for a creative afternoon in a living room atmosphere. A bit of messing about, a bit of laughing, a bit of falling in love.

A date with jeu

Whoever thought boules was only for the French elderly is wrong. Because throwing a ball at boules bar BOEL is anything but boring. While enjoying one of the homemade cocktails or a surprising special beer, you can have a fun game of boules. And besides bocce courts, you can also go there for good food. Will it be choosing from the menu or will you go for a table full? The ideal activity for a casual date.

Connoisseurs of wine and each other

What could be more fun than discovering new things? The answer is: discovering new things together. And you can do that well during a wine tasting at a nice place in town. In Groningen, there are several places where you can do a high wine or wine tasting. This way, you get to know more about each other, but also about what's in your glass. The wine also takes the edge off, which is nice when you have date nerves. Just toast and taste blown.

Walking under the stars

It already sounds romantic. Gazing at the stars together, which can be done from your own garden, but the Lauwersmeer area makes the activity extra special. Far away from artificial light sources, it is so dark here at night that you can actually see everything. Stap the darkness of nature and discover figures in the sky together that you never saw before. Walk through the National Park under the twinkling stars and be sure to visit one of the sky platforms.

Discover your favourite music

The city lives and breathes music. So a date in Groningen could just turn into a live concert. Discovering together which local talent is your favourite sounds like a delightful fill-in for the evening. From large-scale shows on pop stages to intimate jam sessions in a cosy café around the corner, music can be heard somewhere every day. Swing along to the beat, sing along to some phrases and enjoy the moment together. A little live music not only brings atmosphere, but also an excellent basis for a romantic click.

Sniffing culture together

A museum date is ideal to get to know each other better and see if your tastes match. At the Groninger Museum Museum, you'll walk from classical antiquities to modern art and find plenty to talk about. If your date is a real curiosity seeker, the Universiteitsmuseum is perfect for a playful dose of science. Or explore one of the province's fantastic museums, finishing with coffee around the corner and discussing the best work of art. Culture with a wink.

Multiple loves

Do you like cats and coffee? Then this cat café is a date you don't want to miss. While you enjoy something warm with a piece of cake, the cats curiously crawl around you, roll on the floor or come and lie on your lap. It's the perfect mix of relaxation and cosiness. Cosy under a blanket, soft meows in the background and plenty of conversation about which cat looks most like your date. Laugh at the antics of the four-legged friends and get to know each other in a casual atmosphere.

Steal the show

An evening at the theatre is a classic date with a twist. Laugh together at cabaret, get carried away with dance or be amazed by a contemporary performance. In Groningen, you will find plenty of venues all with a varied programme. From the stately Stadsschouwburg with theatre, cabaret and dance to the cosy Grand Theatre for surprising, sometimes more experimental shows in the heart of the city. Get two tickets, choose a drink before the show and gently whisper to each other your favourite moments. Show stealing romance.

Active in the city

Show your sporty side on an active date in Groningen. Challenge each other to a game of padel, go bouldering together and conquer heights you might normally prefer to avoid. This way, you not only have a shared experience, but also a good workout. And fair is fair: it is also a subtle test to see who can stand to lose the most. Being active together makes for a lot of fun, the occasional bit of banter and, hopefully, a victory to celebrate together.

Relax mode on

To show your best side on a date, it is important to be relaxed. Go into relaxation mode together at Thermen Bad Nieuweschans. At this thermal spring, you can experience the power of Groningen groundwater. But there is much more, including several saunas and restaurants. And on top of that, you can book all kinds of activities such as massages and hammam treatments. After a day spent here as a couple, you will feel reborn.