Experience in Groningen, Netherlands by Brian

What is it like to live in Groningen? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I can recommend Groningen to every incoming student or young families. Groningen is a student city, the only in the Northern part of the Netherlands. Which means that Groningen has a lot of discounts for students. The city is student-orientated and has a lot of facilities for students. You must think of two cinema's, a lot of bars, coffee shops, a shopping street and of course a lot of cultural things.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Groningen?

As I said above, it has a lot of facilities for students. You can drink beer 24 hours, but you can also do some cultural things.

How much does it cost to live in Groningen?

Well, It won't be cheap, but there is a student hotel in Groningen. I think a room is around the 200-400 euro. Most people rent a house with 3 or 4 other students who are most likely to choose the cheapest option. The living costs in the Netherlands are also pretty high, but there is a rise in cheap shops like Action, which is not in the city center but in the areas around it.

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Is it difficult to find accommodation in Groningen? Is there any advice you can give?

You have to be quick.

There are a lot of accommodations in Groningen.

- Student Hotel Groningen

- Rent a house/ apartment with three or four or five other students * I would advise this.

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What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Well, my favorite dishes are Greek/macedonic. There are not many Dutch restaurants, but for a Dutch student restaurant, you have to be near the Great Market.

What places would you recommend visiting in Groningen?

and a lot more.

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Is it good to eat out in Groningen? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Yes:

I like Macedonian and greek food

- I Always go to Restaurant Fortuna (Greek) and de Macedoniër (Macedonian) These are two good restaurants. Then there is an Indonesian restaurant, Satehuis, which has a lot of tasty food.

The last favorite spot is De eerste kamer, it offers cheap dutch student food.

Is the nightlife good in Groningen? Where is good to go?

Yes, it is.

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De drie gezusters is the most famous bar in Groningen.

What advice would you give future students heading to Groningen?

Buy an OV-card, living the whole period in Groningen is not worth it. You should enjoy the rest of the Netherlands. With an Ov-kaart you can travel through the whole the Netherlands, and I did it a lot. The travel distances are not that big as in for example Germany, China or the US.