Prinsentuin
Oasis of calm in the middle of the city
Near the Martinitoren stands a high wall with perhaps the quietest spot in Groningen city centre behind it. Within the walls of the green, flowery Prinsentuin you can imagine yourself in another world. Stroll along the plants, read a book on a bench or enjoy a cup of tea at the tearoom.
Roses and foliage aisles
The walled garden is located behind hotel Prinsenhof. The Princes of Nassau stayed in this building when they were in the area since the late 16th century. Stadholder Willem Frederik and his wife Albertine Agnes had the garden laid out in the 17th century. Did it look exactly the same then as it does now? Not quite. Over the years, the garden had fallen into disrepair. Only in the 20th century was the current garden laid out based on old drawings. The rose garden, herb garden and beautiful foliage aisles do give a special picture of how the princes used to spend an afternoon sitting here in the sun.
Walk in
There may be a wall surrounding the Prinsentuin; during the day you can just walk in for free. During the summer months, the tearoom will be happy to help you get a drink. You won't be the first, and certainly not the last, to sit down on a bench here afterwards and completely forget about time. Perhaps this is also the reason why the Prinsentuin is the annual setting for Poets in the Prinsentuin. During this festival, well-known and unknown poets from the Netherlands and Flanders recite from their own work.
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