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Colourful walls

Groningen is best discovered by looking around the corner sometimes. There you may find a world of colours. In several places in the province, walls have been taken in hand by artists. They transformed them into colourful landscapes, odes to artists, a flashback to the past or a complete circus. We have listed a few for you.

Street art 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 - When you cycle along Pleiadenlaan towards winkelcentrum Paddepoel, yellow splashes off one of the walls. It is a work by the famous street artist duo Tito Mulk. Their first work in the Netherlands and Groningen got that first thanks in part to the Groninger Museum. At the centre is the quote "let your dreams be your wings". Around it, you see all the things that can appear in your dreams. Spiderman, Angry Birds, a mermaid and a big fish: you can recognise it all in it.

Art Metal Avenue

Metaallaan, Vinkhuizen - On a wall in the middle of the Vinkhuizen neighbourhood you will find a work by artist duo Nomad Clan from Manchester. The work features a stone head, which is half broken off. From the face comes a lot of greenery; including trees, bushes and mushrooms. The idea behind the work is that, despite different backgrounds, we are all one nature.

Aletta Jacobs

Broerstraat, centre - Since her graduation, Aletta Jacobs has been one of the icons of emancipation in the Netherlands. As the first woman to graduate from the University of Groningen, she is still an example for many others. On one of the buildings on Broerplein in the city, she has recently been immortalised in a mural. This was created by VAAF, a Groningen-based artist duo. On the wall, Aletta is depicted several times at different times in her life. It shows the struggle she had to fight for equal rights.

Circus Clyde Takes You On A Journey

Parking garage De Beren, Korrewegwijk - Shopping centre De Beren in the Korrewegwijk district does not seem too special at first glance. But the most beautiful, colourful part of the shopping centre is underground. The beautiful graffiti painting on the entrance walls of Parkeergarage Circus refers to its surroundings, the former circus grounds at this location. Thus, motorists drive past animal figures into a circus tent. Alderman Paul de Rook unveiled Klaas Lageweg's artwork in November 2018.

Vervlogen tijden

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

Portrait 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 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 some boring grey buildings in the middle of your hometown? Stadskanaal municipality knew what to do. Under the name Street Art Stadskanaal, they brightened things up. Several artists were each assigned an apartment building to take care of. The results are impressive. Each building is unique in its own way.

Tunnel A28 Haren

P+R A28, Haren - A tunnel under the A28 motorway, not exactly the cosiest place in Groningen you would think. A group of young artists thought so too. They each took a part of the tunnel in hand. It resulted in a large palette of colours. A young woman, a huge parrot and silhouettes of skating youngsters, you will come across it all here. So you stap the bus just a little more cheerful.