Folkingestraat
Groningen’s best shopping street
If you walk into the city from the Main Station past the museum, you’ll probably find yourself strolling down the charming Folkingestraat. So charming, in fact, that the street was once awarded the title of ‘Netherlands’ Best Shopping Street’. It’s no surprise: every shop and every restaurant here has its own distinctive character. Be sure to look beyond the shop windows too: Folkingestraat is full of hidden art.
Colourful shopping and dining
The heart of the Folkingestraat beats to a Mediterranean rhythm. Ariola has twice been voted the best shop in the Netherlands. Here you can buy lasagne, stuffed courgette and tapenade: Italian delicacies, all homemade. Across the road is the street’s other cornerstone. At Le Souk, you can buy all the ingredients you need for a delicious North African meal. The other shops selling tasty treats here are also just that little bit different. You can find local produce at the Boergondiër. A fan of alternative clothing? Simsalabim has been a household name for years.
Jewish neighbourhood commemorated through art
The Folkingestraat also has another side to it. Jewish life in this neighbourhood came to an abrupt end during the Second World War. Nowadays, you’ll find hidden works of art here that make you reflect on the street’s past. At the start, at number 67, there’s a bronze door. The door handle is missing. Behind it, the history of the Jewish quarter lies hidden forever. On the side wall of number 9 is the word ‘Weggehaald’ (Removed). And don’t forget to look down too. Amongst the yellow cobblestones of the street lies a bronze lunar cycle. Eleven moon phases guide you from the waxing moon through the full moon to the new moon.
