19 Facts About Groningen

Groningen is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands.

Groningen was established more than 950 years ago and gained city rights in 1245.

At the height of its power in the 15th century, Groningen could be considered an independent city-state and it remained autonomous until the French era.

Today Groningen is a university city, home to some of the country's leading higher education institutes University of Groningen, which is the Netherlands's second oldest university, and Hanze University of Applied Sciences .

In 1536, Groningen accepted Emperor Charles V, the King of Spain and the Habsburg ruler of the other Netherlands as its ruler, thus ending the region's autonomy.

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University of Groningen was founded in 1614 with initial course offerings in law, medicine, theology and philosophy.

Groningen has an oceanic temperate climate, like all of the Netherlands, although slightly colder in winter than other major cities in the Netherlands due to its northeasterly position.

Groningen is nationally known as the "Metropolis of the North".

Since 2016 Groningen has been host of the International Cycling Film Festival—an annual film festival for bicycle related films.

The Forum Groningen that opened in 2019 is a cultural center consisting of a museum, art cinema, library, bars, rooftop terrace and tourist information office.

Groningen has a city theatre called the Stadsschouwburg, located on the Turfsingel, a theatre and concert venue called Martini Plaza, and a cultural venue on the Trompsingel, called the Oosterpoort.

FC Groningen, founded in 1971, is the local football club, and as of 2000 they play in the Eredivisie, the highest football league of the Netherlands.

American sports are fairly popular in Groningen; it has American football, baseball, and basketball clubs.

The Groningen Giants are the American football team of the city who play in the premier league of the AFBN and are nicknamed as the "Kings of the North".

The 2002 Giro d'Italia begun in Groningen, including the prologue and the start of the first stage.

University of Groningen, established in 1614 is the second oldest university in the Netherlands .

Groningen has a trilateral partnership with the nearby northern German cities of Bremen and Oldenburg.

In 2000, Groningen was chosen as the Fietsstad 2002, the top cycle-city in the Netherlands for 2002.

Similar to most Dutch cities, Groningen is developed to accommodate a large number of cyclists.