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Colourful walls

The best way to discover Groningen is to take a peek around the corner every now and then. There, you might just find a world full of colour. In various places across the province, artists have transformed walls into colourful landscapes, tributes to other artists, a look back at the past or a veritable circus. We’ve listed a few of them for you here.

Street art in Papengang

Papengang, city centre - If you go off the beaten track, you'll also come across dark places. A raw edge can be quite exciting. Take the Papengang. Situated in the middle of the city's entertainment district, this alley had a somewhat bad image. But the illustrious corridor got a new face. Literally. From dingy alleyway to attractive backstreet. Artists Klaas Boter, Iris Kruizinga, Loes Faber, Matthieu Keuter of Lewenborg, the duo Vaaf and Hans Vos transformed the Papengang into a colourful and luminous gateway to Groningen's nightlife.

Mother and child

Stoepemaheerd, Beijum - In the heart of the Beijum district, you'll find a gigantic mural by Michel Velt. On the wall above the shoe shop is a mother stretching out her arms to her child. Michel based the work on conversations with residents of the neighbourhood, so he hopes they will recognise themselves in the work. With this cheerful creation, Beijum has been made a bit more colourful again.

Sunshine Festival

Pleiadenlaan, Paddepoel – As you cycle along Pleiadenlaan towards winkelcentrum Paddepoel , the yellow of one of the walls really stands out. It is a work by the famous street art duo Tito Mulk. Their first work in the Netherlands and Groningen was made possible in part thanks to the Groninger Museum. At its centre is the quote ‘let your dreams be your wings’. Surrounding it, you’ll see all sorts of things that might appear in your dreams. Spider-Man, Angry Birds, a mermaid and a big fish: you can recognise them all there.

Kunst Metaallaan

Metaallaan, Vinkhuizen – On a wall in the heart of the Vinkhuizen neighbourhood, you’ll find a work by the Manchester-based artist duo Nomad Clan. The artwork depicts a stone head, half of which has been broken off. A profusion of greenery emerges from the face, including trees, bushes and mushrooms. The idea behind the work is that, despite our different backgrounds, we are all part of one natural world.

Aletta Jacobs

Broerstraat, city centre – Since graduating, Aletta Jacobs has been one of the icons of women’s emancipation in the Netherlands. As the first woman to graduate from the University of Groningen, she remains an inspiration to many others. She has recently been immortalised in a mural on one of the buildings on Broerplein in the city. This was created by VAAF, a duo of artists from Groningen. The mural depicts Aletta on several occasions at different stages of her life. It illustrates the struggle she had to wage for equal rights.

Circus Clyde Takes You On A Journey

De Beren Car Park, Korrewegwijk – At first glance, De Beren shopping centre in the Korrewegwijk doesn’t seem particularly special. But the most beautiful, colourful part of the shopping centre is located underground. The stunning graffiti mural on the entrance walls of Parkeergarage Circus references the surrounding area – the former circus grounds on this site. Motorists drive past animal figures as they enter a circus tent. Councillor Paul de Rook unveiled the artwork by Klaas Lageweg in November 2018.

Vervlogen tijden

Rademarkt, city centre – On the wall of a corner building, next to the police station, is a metre-high graffiti artwork of a pigeon just spreading its wings, ready to fly. The city pigeon is pulling a farmer and his milk cart along. This farmer is Roelf Bierling, the last resident of the farm at Rademarkt 27, where a multi-storey car park now stands. It just goes to show how time flies.

Portrait of Jay from Dope D.O.D.

Alley next to Simplon - Groningen hip-hop formation Dope D.O.D. is world-famous in the hardcore rap and hip-hop scene, but many Groningers have never heard of the rapper. Artist Michel Velt decided to honour this Groningen hero by painting a huge portrait of him that adorns the alley between Boterdiep and Hotel Simplon. And, the painting is not yet finished. The rest of the walls in the alley are also going completely under.

Street art in Oosterpark

Oosterpark - In August 2023, the Municipality of Groningen organised the very first Street Art Festival Groningen together with Writer's Block. In just a few days, some great new artworks were added to the Oosterpark neighbourhood. International and local artists created a total of 7 different murals, full of references to the character of the neighbourhood. The result is impressive. Yet another reason to take a stroll through the Oosterpark neighbourhood.

Garden of the past

Poortersplein - On the spot where the Poortershuisje once stood, you now find a beautiful sea of flowers and a charming little house. During World War II, the Poortershuisje was badly damaged and had to be demolished. Today, you can see a colourful mural here, inspired by an old garden that used to be around the corner from Poortersplein.

Street art Stadskanaal

Various locations – What do you do when there are a number of dull, grey buildings right in the middle of your town? The municipality of Stadskanaal knew exactly what to do. Under the banner Street Art Stadskanaal , they really brightened the place up. Various artists were each assigned a block of flats to transform. The result is impressive. Every building is unique in its own way.

A28 Haren Tunnel

P+R A28, Haren – A tunnel under the A28 motorway; not exactly the cosiest spot in Groningen, you might think. A group of young artists thought so too. They each took on a section of the tunnel. The result is a vast palette of colours. A young woman, a huge parrot and silhouettes of young people skateboarding – you’ll come across it all here. It stap the bus just that little bit more cheerful.