A week in Town and Countryside

You can easily spend a week in Groningen. There are enough gems in the city and the surrounding area to keep you entertained endlessly. We have prepared a sample trip for you, with must-see highlights, tips on where to stay, who serves the best meals and which outings you don't want to miss. We descend from north to south, stopping off in the heart of the city. The raw edge of the Hogeland, the bustling city centre and the charms of the south.

Your journey begins by discovering the highest point of the province of Groningen. The Waddenland, not for nothing also called the Hogeland. With the Wadden Sea as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is clear that nature is worth the effort here. The unique landscape changes from day to day. A constant wave motion, from ebb to flood and vice versa. If it is low tide then, make good use of that time. Walk on the bottom of the sea and experience the area in a unique way on a mudflat walk.

There are many idyllic spots in Waddenland. Such as Leens, where Museum Borg Verhildersum is located. You certainly don't want to miss Winsum either. The village was once voted the most beautiful village in the Netherlands. A little further on, you will find the mound village of Warffum, which was founded many years ago on top of a residential mound.In Openluchtmuseum het Hoogeland, you will learn everything about how things used to be here.

The region lends itself perfectly to hiking. Not surprisingly, the well-known Pieterpad starts here in the Groningen town of Pieterburen. Now, from us, you don't have to cross the whole of the Netherlands. So opt for one of the three Groningen stages. During a walk through Baflo and Rasquert, you will follow in the footsteps of humanist Rudolf Agricola. Prefer modern? The story of Winsum is told through the podwalk you can walk there. The Waddenland Routeland app has many more routes with something for everyone.

An active day calls for a good meal. Thanks to the fertile soil and healthy air, local products are a feast for the eyes. So the kitchens in the Hogeland region are only too happy to use these ingredients. At de Molenaar in Onderdendam, lunch or dinner is very special. In Kloosterburen, you will find a restaurant that is not much different from the others. At Molenrij, they know their way around fresh, regional and organic produce. For tea lovers, there is the Theefabriek in Houwerzijl. Here you can eat a delicious lunch or enjoy a high tea, after visiting the tea museum.

When it's almost time to go to sleep you take a last look. The darkness you find here is rare. In fact, it is so dark here that you can actually see everything. The sky is filled with countless stars. Chances are you will get to make a wish when one shoots through the sky. The Dark Sky Park at Lauwersmeer is there especially to embrace the night.

Here you stay close to the Wadden Sea. Have a nice rest, to go on another adventure the next day. Whether you close your eyes at Bed & Breakfast Batenborg in Winsum, where your accommodation is a restored national monument. You still prefer to opt for Basecamp Noordpolderzijl, where four cosy wadden cottages can be found. Or finally dive into a luxurious bed at Recreatiepark Marenland, where there is a cottage to suit everyone. This is where you really unwind.

An area where wierden, borgen, mills and churches have marked the horizon in the Groningen landscape for centuries. A region with a rich history with many stories, nature and water. In the green Westerkwartier lies the oldest cultural landscape of the Netherlands, the Middag-Humsterland Landscape. Here, winding roads, the vast landscape, meandering ditches and preserved mounds betray its rich history.

More nature can be found in Lettelberterpetten, where you can walk across the capholes via a plank path. The Petgatenpad allows you to explore this otherwise impenetrable area. At the end of the path you come to the banks of the Leekstermeer. This is a good place for bird watching from Veenman watchtower. Water lovers can also visit the area. At Watersportcentrum Lettelbert you can hire a canoe to admire the area while paddling from the water.

Furthermore, a walk through the Doezumermieden is a real adventure. Here you stap around on the quaking moor, literally feeling the ground tremble under your shoes. The traces of peat cutters can still be seen. Near Trimunt is the Jilt Dijksheide, the only remaining heathland in the region. Here you will find pingoes dating from the last ice age. You will also come across land goats and Scottish Highlanders. Can't get enough of nature? At the blotevoetenpad in Opende, you really get the chance to get grounded. Take off your socks and splash about.

Landgoed Nienoord is a piece of Westerkwartier that you really shouldn't miss. There is much to experience here. First of all, you can admire Borg Nienoord. Its stately figure a bright yellow colour steals the show. Next door is the Carriage Museum with a collection of historic carriages and stories about former life on and around the borg. In the shell cave, you will marvel at the many hours that must have gone into the craftsmanship. For the whole family, there is Familiepark Nienoord. Here you can play, stroke animals and take a ride on the steam train.

Trinket shops to high-end restaurants can all be found in the area. Take Tante Til in Enumatil, for example, where you really get to visit a cosy auntie. The place is full of teapots and knickknacks of all kinds. Here you eat original mustard soup and the regional product poffert. In Aduard , you eat on a completely different level. Hostel and restaurant Onder de Linden holds a Michelin star. With French cuisine as a basis, you can imagine yourself in the South for a while. Indonesia also seems far from here, but at Eisseshof in Niehove they just put it on the table for you. Ready for a little spice?

End the day under the roof of Landgoedboerderij Oosterheerdt. With over 300 sheep in the garden, you can count enough to fall asleep. Prefer camping or glamping? At De Watermolen campsite in Opende, you can do both. If you want to stay in Lettelbert for a while, you can stay in a safari tent or a gypsy caravan. At Aan het Diepje they are happy to welcome you.

In the first two days of this trip, you've completely unwinded. That's why we now seek out the hustle and bustle. Groningen's city centre boasts many showpieces as well. The Martinitoren, of course, is not to be missed. As a stately figure, the Olle Grieze towers above the skyline. You see the structure from afar and are bound to come across it. You can also take a look inside. Then get ready for a long trip because climbing is a serious workout. 311 steps take you to the highest spot in the city, a mere 97 metres in the air. Another eye-catcher is the Forum. Striking architecture and full of inspiration. A meeting place for anyone curious about today's world and tomorrow's possibilities. A lot less striking are the city's courtyards. Small oases of peace in the middle of the hustle and bustle, full of history and special stories.

It is on the city terraces that you really taste the atmosphere. A mix of city dwellers and visitors from afar. Here you enjoy the sun during the day until late at night under the heater. A cup of coffee, local beer, freshly squeezed juice or a good glass of wine. It's all up to you. At Zondag you are in the middle of the Noorderplantsoen, where everyone likes to gather in summer to enjoy the weather and a piece of nature. Café de Sigaar on the Hoge der A sits right by the water. Here you can see boats and suppers passing by. A little further on is Pernikkel with a small but cosy terrace. You'll find homemade, junk-free and local snacks. The News Café and the Goudkantoor are neighbours of each other. One modern and hip, the other historic and atmospheric. Also not to be forgotten is Poelestraat. The terraces of several businesses converge on this cosy square. Guaranteed to be cosy and there is always something to see.

In town, entrepreneurs help you get local produce from nearby lands to delicacies far from here. At the Koffiestation, for example, they source beans from all over the world but roast them locally. Pick up a whole bag or just have a cup there. Also be sure to stop by Le Souk on Folkingestraat. This delicatessen is a treat to see and the snacks are even more delicious to taste. The real bourgondier is sure to be delighted at the Kaaskop. Here, all products are fairly produced and come from the region as much as possible. At the Groningen Store found in the Forum, you will scavenge all kinds of typical Groningen products. At all these shops you are sure to find a nice memento for yourself or a souvenir for your loved ones.

Prefer not to get into the kitchen yourself? There is no shortage of breakfast, lunch and dinner addresses in the city. At the foot of the Martinitoren you will find the Kostery. Here they serve all kinds of meals from early in the morning until late at night in the 17th century building. A favourite spot among Groningers is Wadapartja on Zuiderdiep. This is where city dwellers like to eat a sandwich at lunchtime. For those who want to have lunch or dinner in regal atmospheres, there is Brasserie Prinsenhof. With the Prinsentuin as your view, enjoy as many courses as you want and can finish. Fine dining is available at Florentin, Sepia and De Kleine Heerlijkheid. Prefer shared dining? Then check out Moro, Bistro Boys or Konbu Streetfood. All about grabbing a bite to eat and having a drink can be found here.