Groningen is a city in the Netherlands 🇳🇱, located in the province which shares the same name, Groningen. This city has over a thousand years of history but around the 13th century it became a well known trade route and villagers began to wall the city. Today, Groningen is a renown university city full of culture and history. Groningen is a foodie’s paradise and has an excellent beer scene. We spent a day exploring Groningen, checking out some of the popular attractions and landmarks and of course eating our way through the city. Here is our one day Groningen Itinerary.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Groningen on a Map The city of Groningen is located in the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. Groningen is about a two hour drive from Amsterdam and about 30-minutes north of the city of Assen.  Groningen Airport Eelde is about 15 Km from the city center. There are a few flights daily from this airport that fly to and from Groningen from other European destinations.  There are three train stations around Groningen, Groningen Station being the main and most traveled station in the city.  Getting to Groningen is easily accessible by car as many highways lead to and from the city. Once in Groningen, it is best to explore the historical center by bicycle or on foot.  Our One Day Groningen Itinerary Groningen is a large city in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 and deserves to be fully explored. There are magnificent cathedrals, miles of canals, and an abundance of bars and restaurants here that I’m sure are all fantastic. But let’s be realistic, unless you live here, there is no way to eat and see everything in one visit.  We did our research on Groningen before even departing on our trip to Europe. We had in mind a few of the attractions and sites around the city we wanted to see but left plenty of room for exploring. Food wise, we didn’t know what to expect. I mean, I’ve been to Amsterdam before with a few buddies, but we were broke college kids happy eating anything within our budget. Here is our one day Groningen itinerary, to include all the sites we saw, food we ate, and beer (mostly me) we drank.  Morning: Always Starts with a Coffee and Pastry When we travel, our days always begin with a coffee and nice breakfast. When in Europe, Jill and I love trying bakeries and are usually ever disappointed.  We wandered around looking for a bakery and there were a few options. Since we were near the Grote Markt area, we found a bakery called Bakker Bart. Bakker Bart had a few pastries we’ve never tried but also had some traditional items like danishes and donuts. I ordered a long bread filled with cheese and Jill had a sweet treat with an apple filling. We grabbed our coffee and teas and sat at their upstairs area to relax and better plan our one day Groningen Itinerary.  Walk Around Martinikerkhof After a nice hot coffee and pastry, what better way to enjoy a new city then relax at a historical park. We found ourselves wanting to visit Martinikerk but it was closed. So we walked around the park next to Martinikerk hoping to kill some time until the church opened. Walking around Martinikerkhof was one of the highlights for me in Groningen. It’s a typical European city park, but I loved the traditional Dutch architecture and buildings surrounding the park.   One of the buildings at the park was so crooked, it was amazing that it still stood. Crooked buildings are quite common to see around older European cities, but this one really stood out to me. Martinikerk (Martin’s Church) Martinikerk (Martin’s Church) is Groningen’s oldest church. There has been a church at the current site since the year 800. Over time, the church has expanded and grown. The large tower seen today was erected between the years of 1470 and 1550. Like many buildings in Europe, the original tower did not survive as it burnt down but was rebuilt in the early 1600’s.  The tower is known to locals as Olle Grieze (the Old Grey One in Dutch) and is 97 meters tall.  Visitors can access the church and tour the tower during specific times. Jill and I had no luck entering the church. We came back throughout the day at different times but were unable to enter. I recommend visiting the Martinikerk website for updated times and admission fees.  Afternoon: Frites and Hot Chocolate There is no argument that Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands have the best Frites or French Fries 🍟. I absolutely love going to a fest or food stall in these countries and being able to get a cone full of fries with a dollop of mayonnaise.  While in Groningen, we found a place called frietwinkel that sold mainly fries and small snacks. We originally walked by and saw all the fresh potatoes waiting to be cut into fries and had to stop in. We ordered a cone of fries with mayo and happily walked around town. The fries from frietwinkel were outstanding and made for a perfect afternoon lunch.  After snacking on fries, we ended up at a café called Chocolate Company ☕️. Jill mentioned something about Dutch Hot Chocolate. We typed hot chocolate in our phones and Chocolate Company showed up, so we darted here quickly after downing our fries.  Chocolate Company was a popular place during the afternoon especially with young students eager to get work done in a relaxing café. We both ordered hot chocolate unaware that there were like 60 flavors to choose from. Chocolate Company had a display of chocolate squares at the end of a spoon. Each chocolate cube was a different flavor. The baristas would make the hot chocolate with the chocolate square and the end result was a deliciously rich hot chocolate. I believe I ordered hazelnut and caramel and Jill had dark chocolate. The concept here of hot chocolate was next level, we loved Chocolate Company.  Walk the Canals and View the Boats While walking around downtown Groningen, I couldn’t help but notice that there were no canals. I am used to places like Amsterdam where there are canals and bridges throughout the city. It wasn’t until we walked further from the city center where we started to notice the canals and then we looked at our maps to find out that a giant canal circles the downtown area of Groningen.  It was here, walking the canals where we really felt like we were in the Netherlands. The canals were lined with Dutch homes and businesses and the traditional ships were anchored at the side of the canals 🛶. We spent a solid hour walking footpaths along the canals. It seemed as if the canals continued in various directions accessing larger bodies of water.  Groninger Museum If visiting Groningen, the Groninger Museum is a must. Jill and I had fun walking the outside of the museum viewing the interesting architecture of the museum and seeing the Scuba Kitty and Fish floating in the canal.  The Groninger Museum is an art museum with displays of modern art from both local and international artists. Honestly, I’m not that into art museums, especially modern art. The highlights for me was of the outside architecture of the museum and some of the artistic features nearby.  Sample Food Around Vismarkt Vismarkt is a large square in the center of Groningen. We walked by here several times and there was always something going on. There appeared to be a weekend market going on when we visited and there was everything from fresh seafood stands to people selling flowers. When walking by at different times of the day, there was always some type of food truck here whether it be for stroopwafel’s or Döner Kebabs.  We walked by Vismarkt at one point and there was nothing going on. There are many shops and restaurants surrounding Vismarkt. You also get great views of Martinikerk and Akerk from the Vismarkt.  Evening: Ribs and Belgium Beers One of the highlights of visiting Groningen was the food and beer especially the Belgian Beers 🍺. If like me, you are really into craft beer and Belgian Beer, then I recommend visiting a grocery store in Groningen and pick out a few Belgian Beers. We visited a grocery store called AH Gedempte Zuiderdiep and I was amazed by the beer selection and how cheap the beers were. I’m talking wonderful Belgian Beers for under €2. I picked up at least six different beers and sampled them over the course of a few days. My favorite Belgian Beers out of the bunch was the Affligem Tripel from Affligem Brouwerij and Paix Dieu from Brasserie Caulier  🍻. To wrap up our one day in Groningen itinerary, we wanted to find a restaurant that served up traditional Dutch meals.  We found a restaurant called WEEVA near the Martini Hotel. Ribs weren’t on my mind until I saw them on the menu. Apparently, ribs aren’t just popular in the United States, they are also very popular in the Netherlands. When I was in Amsterdam with a couple friends, we found an all-you-can-eat rib joint and we demolished those ribs so I wanted to see if the ribs at WEEVA were comparable.  Surprisingly, the ribs I ordered at WEEVA were some of the best, I’ve ever had. The plate came out and consisted of three half rack of ribs along with fries, salad, and a variety of dipping sauces. They were fall off the bone and so flavorful. Trust me, there was no need for all-you-can-eat here, I was beyond full.  Jill ordered Stamppot Endive. Stamppot Endive is a Dutch dish that consists of mashed potatoes and a combination of other delicious foods like walnuts, cheese, and bacon. This is a Dutch comfort food and every household and restaurant has their own unique recipe.  After being in Japan for over 3 years, I wasn’t used to the huge food portions in the Netherlands. I asked the waiter about the food portions and apparently huge portions are typical in the Netherlands. If visiting Groningen, come hungry!  Common Questions When Planning a Trip to Groningen What is Groningen Best Known for? – Groningen is known for a lot and often gets overlooked since most people visiting the Netherlands travel to places like Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Groningen is most known as being a lively university city with a diverse culture. Famous landmarks in Groningen include the Martinikerk, Groninger Museum, and the Vismarkt.  Where is Groningen, Netherlands? – Groningen is in the province of Groningen. About a tour hour drive from Amsterdam.  What Time Zone is Groningen, Netherlands in? – Groningen is in the Central European Standard Time (CET).  Is Groningen a Good City to Live in? – Personally, I have never lived in Groningen or the Netherlands. But from locals I talked to, everyone was very happy with living in Groningen. Locals like the culture brought by the university, the relaxed lifestyle, and easy access to things to do in Groningen.  Conclusion Spending one day in Groningen offers visitors a chance to scratch the surface of visiting this lively city. Whether exploring the picturesque canals, visiting the museums, or sampling food at the local markets, Groningen will leave a lasting impression and make you want to come back to explore more. If you find yourself traveling around the Netherlands, do yourself a favor and stop and enjoy a day in Groningen or longer if time permits.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸  Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇳🇱  Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖  For booking recommendations on the best

Assen is a medium sized city located in Drenthe Province, Netherlands. Located about 30 minutes south of Groningen, Assen is home to world class attractions to include the TT Circuit Assen and Drents Museum. The Drents Museums has famous art collections, the Netherland’s largest doll house, and amazing historical artifacts. The most interesting and fascinating department at the Drents Museum was the Archaeology department. The primary reason for visiting this museum was to witness the several bog bodies on display and pay a visit to the Yde Girl, one of the world’s most famous bog bodies.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! About Assen Assen is the capital of the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands. Drenthe is located in the northeastern portion of the Netherlands. As a reference it is about a 2-hour drive from Amsterdam and a 30-minute drive from Groningen. With a population of around 65,000, Assen is big enough to support a downtown area with plenty of things to do and see but small enough where visitors won’t feel overwhelmed. History of Assen The written history of Assen dates back to the 13th century. The Marienkamp Abbey which was originally built in the Dutch town of Coevorden was moved to Assen. The abbey was first built near Coevorden after the Battle of Ane in which peasants from Drenthe slaughtered the Bishop of Utrecht and his loyal army in 1227. Because of the landscape and weather in the area, the abbey was under constant threat of flooding, so the abbey was moved to a more ideal location. Eventually, a small city began to grow around the abbey and this became the city of Assen.  Assen Today Today, Assen is a modern city that still has a lot of Dutch charm. Assen is most known for the TT Circuit Assen and the Drents Museum.  Once a year motorsport enthusiasts gather in Assen for the TT Circuit Assen which holds the Grand Prix Motorcycle Races. This is one of the world’s best and most popular racing circuits for motorcycles and has been called the “Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing.”  If you are visiting Assen and have no desire to visit the TT Circuit Assen or if museums are not your thing, then there are still plenty of things to do and see. Why not rent a bike and do what the Dutch do best? Cycle around the city. After all, Assen is really flat which makes for easy and enjoyably cycling.  Visit in November and attend the Dance Festival. Walk the canals. Outside of the town center, there are several canals lined with beautiful traditional homes.  Explore the downtown area. The architecture of the buildings around downtown are photo worthy!  Do some shopping. There are plenty of department stores and local shops. Grab a bite to eat, there are so many options in the downtown area. We had lunch at a restaurants called Queens Lunchroom. This restaurant made refreshing sandwiches and wraps that we both enjoyed!  The Drents Museum in Assen The Drents Museum in Assen is probably the most visited attraction in Assen. The Drents Museum is an art and history museum that first opened its doors in 1854.  According to the Drents Museum website, they have over 90,000 items and are considered to have one of the Netherlands largest collections. The permanent exhibits at the Drents Museum include the Archaeology, Art 1885-1935, Contemporary Realism, and the History of Drenthe exhibits.  There are also temporary exhibits at the Drents Museum. A few previous exhibits include Viva la Frida and the Nebra Sky Disc. When we visited the Drents Museum in Assen, they had a temporary exhibit called Under the Spell of Mount Ararat. This exhibit had historical items and treasures on display from the History Museum of Armenia.  One of my favorite exhibits at the Drents Museum was the collection they had on Archaeology, in particular the exhibit they had on bog bodies. The archaeological exhibit has mammoth bones, items found that were used by Neanderthals, objects discovered in ancient burial mounds, the world’s oldest boat, and bog bodies. Drents Museum Admission and Hours Admission €15 for Adults Youth (0-17) are Free Hours Open Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 am until 6:00 pm Closed on the following holidays: King’s Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day For more information view the  Drents Museum Website. Bog Bodies Like visiting the Mummy Museum in Guanajuato I have an odd fascination with mummies and a morbid curiosity. The main reason for visiting Assen was to see the Archaeology exhibit at the Drents Museum, mainly to see the bog bodies.  So, what exactly are bog bodies?  Bog bodies are mummified bodies that have been discovered in bogs, primarily in Northern Europe. Most bog bodies discovered are thousands of years old and so well preserved, that a few of them have been mistaken for recent murder victims. For instance, the Tollund Man was discovered in a bog near Silkeborg, Denmark. When peat cutters discovered his corpse, they believed he was a recent victim of homicide. When found, the Tollund Man, still had facial hair, eye lashes, and wrinkles. Turns out, the homicide part may have been true but he died around 405-380 BC. He was found with a noose around his neck, which seems to be common among other bog bodies.  Many of the bog bodies discovered have been incredibly well preserved. This is partly caused by the layers of dead moss which is very acidic and lacks oxygen.  Some other notable bog bodies include the Borremose Man and the  Grauballe Man of Denmark, the Husbake Man, Osterby Man, and Rendswühren Man, from Germany and the Yde Girl from the Netherlands.  The Yde Girl The Yde Girl is a bog body that can be seen at the Archaeology Department of the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands. The Yde Girl is perhaps the second most popular bog body after the Tollund Man and definitely the most famous that hails from the Netherlands.  The Yde Girl was first discovered in a peat bog in the village of Yde, Netherlands in 1897.  Two peat cutters were working that day when the discovery was made. Once discovering the body, the two peat cutters fled the scene but came back to the same spot later in the day and somewhat covered the body. News got around town of the discovery and villagers were curious about the body. The body was left there for two weeks before being turned over to the local authorities. Unfortunately, peat tools damaged the body as did locals who took her teeth and hair. Being exposed to the air for two weeks and poor conditions further damaged the body of the Yde Girl.  The remains were collected and brought to the Drents Museum days later. It was discovered that the Yde Girl, like the Tollund Man had a noose around her neck. She also had a stab wound near her collar bone. Evidence suggests that she was either tortured or a victim of sacrifice.  Carbon-14 tests have shown that the Yde Girl was around the age of 16 when she was murdered and died sometime between the years of 54 BC and 128 AD.  Today, only the head, torso, right hand, and feet survived.  In 1992, CT scans from her corpse were taken by a professor from Manchester University.  The CT scan positively identified her age at 16 and showed that she had curvature of the spine. Also in 1992, a facial reconstruction of her head was made by Richard Neave who used plastic surgery and pathology techniques to reconstruct her appearance. This facial reconstruction of the Yde Girl is currently on display at the Drents Museum in Assen along with her body. Conclusion Assen can make for a great day trip from Groningen or even Amsterdam. We stopped in Assen on our way to Groningen from Fort Bourtange. Visitors can see most of Assen in a single day. It is recommended to visit the Drents Museum in Assen, walk around the down town area, and catch a motorcycle race depending on the season. Assen is a cute town that has a lot of Dutch charm, there were plenty of restaurants and bars in Assen. There is something for everyone here!  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸  Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇳🇱  Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖 🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Fort Bourtange, is a star shaped fort located in the Dutch village of Bourtange. Fort Bourtange was originally ordered to be built by William the Silent in 1593 as a means of defending the main road between the city of Groningen and Germany. During this time, the Spaniards occupied the area during the Eighty Years’ War. Today, anyone can visit Fort Bourtange.  Visitors can access one of the museums, eat at a local restaurant, view the shops, or simply walk around and explore Fort Bourtange. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where is Fort Bourtange? The village of Bourtange is located in the Groningen Province of the Netherlands. Located near the border of Germany and the Netherlands, Bourtange is about an hours drive from the city of Groningen. Fort Bourtange is a fort located within the village of Bourtange. History of Fort Bourtange Fort Bourtange was originally established in 1593 by William the Silent in order to protect the Dutch and control the road leading to Groningen from Germany from the Spaniards during the Eighty Years’ War. The Eighty Years’ War was a war fought between the Netherlands and Spain for Dutch Independence. This war was fought between 1568 and 1648, hence the 80 Years’ War. In 1577 the Spaniards captured the city of Groningen. Eventually, because of the location of Fort Bourtange, supplies to Groningen were cut off to the Spaniards and Groningen fell into Dutch hands once more in 1594. The star shape of the fort was a popular design around the Netherlands at the time. The star shape of the fort provided guards with better views of the surrounding area and also better protected the fort against cannon fire. Overtime the marshlands around Fort Bourtange dried up due to agriculture. Because of this, the fort was no longer being used for military purposes and was converted into a residential village around the 1850’s. Over time, the village fell into disrepair. In the 1960’s the local government decided to turn the deteriorating village into an open air museum and Fort Bourtange has been a popular tourist attraction ever since. Visiting Fort Bourtange Today, anyone can pay a visit Fort Bourtange. There is not a whole lot of information on the internet regarding things to do in Fort Bourtange. Honestly, there wasn’t a whole lot to do but walk around and enjoy the atmosphere and beauty of the village. I say this because we visited Fort Bourtange first thing in the morning when everything was still closed. Outside of Fort Bourtange, there is a parking lot and visitor center. The Fort Bourtange Visitor center is open daily from 10 am until 4:30 pm. For more information on opening hours and tickets, visit the Vesting Bourtange website. Visitors can view the mill, church, town square, and view the traditional houses. There are a few museums that can be accessed, tickets for the museums can be purchased at the visitor center. The museums include the Terra Morea, The Baracquen, Captain’s House, Synagogue, and Gunpowder House. The are also a couple of local shops and restaurants within Fort Bourtange. There is a narrow trail that goes around walls of the star shaped fort. From here, you get great views of the town, moat, and surrounding forest. Conclusion A visit to Fort Bourtange is worth a quick stop. It is like stepping back in time to an era of Dutch history that so many of us are unfamiliar with. Fort Bourtange offers visitors a glimpse into the military and fortification history of the Netherlands. This fort is a must for history enthusiasts but is also a great attraction for anyone interested in Dutch culture, small towns, and beautiful nature. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸  Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇳🇱  Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖 🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.