Experience in Groningen, Netherlands by Frederique

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

Living in Groningen is like love at first sight. Everyone is welcoming and there is so much to do and to see. I would definitely recommend living in Groningen, especially for students. The city is very pretty. There are canals around the city centre. It is small, so you can go everywhere by foot or bike.

What is the student lifestyle like in Groningen?

I do not know where to start about the student lifestyle in Groningen. Because there are so many universities, this city is one of the biggest student cities in the Netherlands. The city is full of good places to study, but also to have coffee breaks and lunches. The city is really based on all the students. So there are a lot of bars and clubs. The nightlife never stops in Groningen. All the bars are open every night, and they don't have closing times. There are also a lot of activities organised for students every year.

How much does it cost to live in Groningen?

Living in Groningen is not that expensive. It really depends on your own wishes. In the centre you have a lot of student houses where you can rent a room for around €300. A beer costs between €1 and €2, depends on the place where you order it.

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

Finding accommodation in Groningen is not hard, because there are always students finishing their studies or switching rooms. Kamernet is a website where a lot of rooms are posted. There are also a lot of Facebook groups where you can easily see all the rooms that are offered.

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

We don't have typical dishes from our city. My favourite dish in Groningen is Roti from WarungJawa. This is the best Surinamese dish in Groningen (and cheap).

What places would you recommend visiting in Groningen?

I would recommend visiting our city beach! During the warm summer days this place is packed with students and music. Also our park 'Noorderplantsoen' is overcrowded with students during the summer, or warm days. Buy a cheap BBQ and bring some food and beers. You will have the best nights here! Another place where you can find a lot of students, cheap food, DJ's and beers is 'Uurwerker'. Paradigm is a really good and impressive place for techno and house parties.

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

Eating out in Groningen is great. There are a lot of choices, with a lot of different prices. A lot of restaurants offer a day dish from 10€. You can also eat really cheap pasta's at Vapiano and Pastafabriek. My favourite places are 'Het Concerthuis' and 'Uurwerker'.

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

The nightlife is the best! There is one main street were all the bars and clubs are situated. And you never have to pay an entrance fee! So if you don't like the music in one place, just move on to the next.

What advice would you give future students heading to Groningen?

I would advice you to join Facebook groups. They post a lot of parties and activities on these platforms, but also rooms and other interesting stuff.

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