Loading...
Loading...
Every street in Groningen carries echoes of the events that shaped it. Stand in front of Martinitoren and Grote Markt and the past stops being abstract — the buildings, monuments, and neighborhoods survived to tell their tale. Quieter sites like Prinsenhof gardens hold stories that the crowds at the major monuments never hear.
A youthful university city in the north of the Netherlands with a vibrant cultural scene and a striking leaning church tower.
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free self-guided history tour route in Groningen. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Martinitoren — a 97-meter leaning church tower with views across the northern Netherlands, Grote Markt — the main square with the medieval town hall and bustling market days, plus hidden gems like Prinsenhof gardens — a hidden Renaissance garden behind the former seat of the provincial government.
Use this page as a starting point for a Groningen walking tour, a free self-guided route, or the Roamee app for Groningen. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
Groningen draws visitors for culture and art, and history is the foundation beneath all of it. Sites like Martinitoren and Grote Markt anchor the narrative, while overlooked places like Prinsenhof gardens fill in the chapters that most visitors skip. Walking with a history lens, even familiar landmarks reveal why a street curves the way it does and what happened on the ground you're standing on.
The city center is compact, flat, and largely pedestrianized. Bicycles outnumber people — stay on the walking paths to avoid the bike lanes.
May through September. The Noorderzon performing arts festival in August transforms the Noorderplantsoen park.
Ready for a history tour in Groningen?
Get a personalized walking route with narrated stories — no booking needed
Start Your Groningen Tour — FreeYour personal guide in 5 seconds