Essentials
- City
- Groningen, Province of Groningen, Netherlands
- Population
- Approx. 238,000 (roughly 25% are students)
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber widely available, average 150-300 Mbps; public Wi-Fi 'Groningen-Fiets' in center
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD; Euro is the official currency
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and among the highest quality in the world
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- KPN, Vodafone, Odido; €20-€35 for monthly prepaid with 10GB+ data
- Banking for Expats
- ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank (Maestro/V-Pay preferred), Revolut/Bunq for digital
- Accommodation
- Highly competitive; use Funda.nl, Pararius, or Kamernet for rentals
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely; some shops 'Pin Only' (no cash accepted)
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (avg. €110/night), The Social Hub (approx. €1,200/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Bud Gett Hostels (Rademarkt 3-9, approx. €35/night), Simplon Hostel (€30/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Binnenstad (City Center) near Grote Markt and Vismarkt
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Schildersbuurt (scenic, quiet) or Korrewegwijk (more affordable, vibrant)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Launch Cafe (Herestraat 106, day pass €20, monthly €175)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffee Company (Oude Ebbingestraat 39) - laptop friendly with dedicated tables
- Networking Events
- Founders Drinks Groningen at DOT; North-Netherlands Digital Meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- International Community Groningen (ICG) weekly socials at O'Ceallaigh Irish Pub
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited), Taxi Noord (+31 50 549 4940), Bolt is not active
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Swapfiets (Westerhaven 72, €19/month subscription), OV-fiets at station (€4.50/24h)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Stadsstrand (City Beach) at DOT; or Schiermonnikoog Island (90 mins by bus/ferry)
- Top Regional Airline
- Transavia (operating from Groningen Airport Eelde - GRQ)
- Top International Airline
- KLM (via Amsterdam Schiphol, 2h direct train)
- Highway Access
- Connected via A7 (East-West) and A28 (South to Utrecht/Amsterdam)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Groningen Hoofdstation (Stationsplein)
- Public Transport Passes
- OV-chipkaart; NS Flex for train discounts; Qbuzz regional bus passes
- Regional Travel
- Arriva Trains to Leeuwarden/Germany; Qbuzz interconnecting the north
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- UMCG (University Medical Center Groningen), Hanzeplein 1
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Open Yoga (Sint Jansstraat 7, €15 drop-in); Yoga Under Construction
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Basic-Fit (Westerhaven, approx. €25/month), TrainMore (Munnekeholm 1)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry (Nieuwe Ebbingestraat 45, approx. €5 per wash)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Thuisbezorgd.nl (local giant), UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Groninger Mosterdsoep (Mustard soup with bacon cubes)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Herbivoor (Gedempte Zuiderdiep 59), Bla Bla (Nieuwe Boteringestraat 9)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Toet (Gedempte Zuiderdiep 85) - dedicated dessert paradise
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Vismarkt/Grote Markt (Tuesday, Friday, Saturday markets); Lidl/Aldi
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Bol.com, Coolblue, Amazon.nl
- Grocery Delivery
- Picnic (app-based), Albert Heijn (ah.nl), Crisp
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Poelestraat and Peperstraat (no closing times on weekends)
- Local Brewery
- Baxbier Brewery (Spoorstraat 69, tasting room on the canal)
- Wine Bars
- Stuyvesant (Oude Boteringestraat 53), Barrel Wijnlokaal (Haddingestraat 27)
- Street Food Stalls
- Friet van Belgen (Vismarkt) for Flemish fries; Eierbal (local scotch-egg style snack) from any 'Automatiek'
- Popular International Cuisine
- Konbu Jiro (Ramen), Imono (Sushi), Kohinoor van India
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Martinitoren (St. Martin's Tower), Groninger Museum (modern art structure)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Groninger Museum (Museumeiland 1), Forum Groningen (cultural hub/library)
- Historical Sites
- Hoge der A (most photographed canal side), Prinsentuin (Renaissance garden)
- Religious Sites
- Martinikerk (Grote Markt), Nieuwe Kerk
- Annual Events
- Eurosonic Noorderslag (January), Noorderzon Festival (August)
- Cultural Districts
- Ebbingekwartier (creative hub, industrial vibes)
- Theater Venues
- Stadsschouwburg (Turfsingel 86), Grand Theatre
- Local Markets
- Vismarkt (Fresh produce/fish), Grote Markt (General/Flowers)
- Music Scene
- Vera (Oosterstraat 44 - underground pop culture), Simplon
- Street Art
- Groninger Graffiti walls near Suikerterrein and various utility box murals
- Cooking Classes
- Kookstudio050 (Damsterdiep 269)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Noord, Kunstlievend Genootschap Pictura
- Historic Buildings
- Goudkantoor (Gold Office, 1635), Academy Building (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Eierbal' (Egg Ball) - UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Groningen
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Noorderplantsoen (city park), Paterswoldsemeer (lake for sailing/rowing)
- National Parks Nearby
- Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer (35 mins drive/bus)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Onlanden (nature reserve borders the city), 'Rondje Groningen' cycle route
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Forum Groningen Rooftop (free access, panoramic city views)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Kardinge Nature Area, Lauwersmeer (Dark Sky Park)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Suikerterrein (designated community event fires only, check local permits)
Business
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = €209,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = €382,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = €297,500)
- Corporate Tax
- 19% up to €200,000 profit, 25.8% above that
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 49.5% for income over €75,518 (2024/25 rates)
- VAT
- 21% standard, 9% for food and certain services
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in line with EU ATAD directives
- Property Tax
- OZB (Onroerendezaakbelasting) based on WOZ value (approx. 0.1% - 0.2% annually)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 10.4% standard; 2% for primary residence; 0% for first-time buyers under 35 (<€510k)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 30% Ruling (tax-free allowance) for high-skilled migrants meeting salary criteria
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,200 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €182,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,100 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €143,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,800 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = €264,000)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- PostNL, DHL ServicePoints (widely available in bookstores like Primera)
- Tech Repair Services
- ThePhoneLab (Herestraat), MediaMarkt (Westerhaven)
- Table Tennis Spots
- TTV Vastberaden, outdoor tables at Noorderplantsoen
- Language Classes
- University of Groningen Language Centre (Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 26)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Forum Groningen (Nieuwe Markt 1), University Library (UB)
- Community Centers
- Edanz (Van Oldenbarneveltlaan 6)
- Gaming Lounges
- Purperen Draak (Board games, Nieuwe Ebbingestraat 32)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Holland Casino (Gedempte Kattendiep 150)