Groningen a history full of struggle

27 January 2020 0 By beheerder

Groningen is the most northern province of the the Netherlands. It is also the most difficult province to describe in terms of history. If you look back in time, you can see that the history of Groningen actually consists largely of conflicts since the 16th century. Groningen is also the name of the provincial capital, a city where more than a third of the residents of the province are housed. Groningen borders the Wadden Sea in the north, the Eems and Dollard coves in the northeast, the East Frisian regions of Lower Saxony in the east of Germany, the province of Drenthe in the south and the province of Friesland in the west.

Back to the stoneage

The presence of a hunebed at Noordlaren indicates that the inhabitation of the area dates back to the Stone Age. The discovery of a dolmen near Delfzijl is an indication that the habitation was not only limited to the border area with Drenthe. According to some, the presence of that hunebed is proof of the theory that the hunebed builders entered the country from the sea. The first known mentions about the city of Groningen date from 1040.

Tourism in Groningen

From a tourist point of view, Groningen has always lagged behind the rest of the Netherlands. The main reasons for tourism include the cultural heritage of the city, the Bourtagne Fortress, Lauwersmeer National Park, the Hortus in Haren and last but not least nature in the province.

Heavy damage in WWII

During the 2nd World War, the city of Groningen caught heavy blows. The Grote Markt in particular was seriously damaged in April 1945 during the liberation. More than 300 buildings were lost in the battle for the city. The entire north wall as well as the east wall of the Grote Markt was completely destroyed. What was spared was the Martini tower, the symbol of the city with its church. But the town hall and the Gold Office were also spared. The Head Guard at the foot of the Martini tower was so badly damaged that recovery was no longer possible.

Sight seeing in Groningen

One of the biggest eye-catchers in the city is the Martini graveyard, which lies to the north-east of the Grote Markt. This is seen as one of the most serene places in the city of Groningen with buildings such as the Provinciehuis and the Prinsenhof. The most important museum in the city is the Groningen museum, which has developed into one of the most innovative museums since its move to the new building on the artificial island in the Connection Channel. In addition to the Groningen museum, you will also find the University Museum and the Northern Maritime Museum in Groningen.