Historical walk through Groningen city centre

Route

• Starting point: Groninger Museum

• Behind you is the station building, and a little further on you’ll see the Peerd van Ome Loeks.

• Turn left along the Ubbo Emmiussingel, go around the roundabout and continue to the Praediniussingel. In these streets you can see the architecture of the townhouses.

• At the Academie Minerva, go a short way to the right and then immediately left into the Museumstraat.

• At the end of this street, turn left along the Kleine der A. Here you’ll find an artistic public toilet from the 1990s.

• Carry straight on along the Hoge der A. This is where trade used to take place, and it was the first harbour in the city.

• Then continue straight on to the Vishoek, where there is a monument to the women who used to define the look of that street. Then turn left straight away, which brings you out at the Noorderhaven.

• The Noorderhaven is lined with warehouses and houseboats. At the end of the Noorderhaven, turn right over the bridge. Then turn right again and keep following the path along the Lage der A.

• Next, cross the Westersingel bridge and walk through the Noorderplantsoen. Follow the path of the Lelisingel, where you’ll find a 17th-century national monument. Walk to the end of this path to the Kruissingel. Here there is a lovely stretch of water with a fountain.

• At the end of this path, turn left past the café and follow the path. Take the bend to the right and you’ll eventually come out on the Nieuwe Kijk in ’t Jatstraat. At the first path, turn left into the Kleine Appelstraat.

• Then turn right again into the Nieuwe Boteringestraat. Here you’ll find the Doopsgezind Gasthuis (Mennonite almshouse). A little further on you’ll see the Nieuwe Kerk, so walk past it.

• Continue along the Nieuwe Boteringestraat until you see the Ossenmarkt. Turn right here. The square you see is the Gyotplein, and this is also where the Nieuwe Gerechtsgebouw (the new courthouse) stands.

• When you walk around the square you’ll come out on the Lopende Diep, where you turn right. At the bridge, cross over and walk along the Oude Kijk in ’t Jatstraat. In this street you’ll see the Harmoniegebouw with the bust of Aletta Jacobs.

• Then turn left into the Broerstraat. This is where the University of Groningen is. At the end of this street, turn right into the Oude Boteringestraat. In this street you’ll find the Calmershuis, one of the oldest stone houses in Groningen.

• Walk left to the Grote Markt. This is the main square in the city. Continue straight on towards the Martinitoren and Martinikerk. This is the tallest tower in Groningen (d’Olle Grieze).

• Next, walk a short way through the Martinikerkhof, where you’ll see several old buildings and the Provincie Huis. Then turn left into the Sint Walburgstraat. Continue along this street by turning right.

• Now you’ll pass the Prinsentuin, so walk through it. This is also where the Prinsenhof stands, a building that used to serve as a residence for the sovereign. On the left-hand side of the garden is the Turfsingel, so head over there.

• You’re now walking along the water to the Maagdenbrug, where vegetable markets used to be held on the left-hand side. Turn right along the Turfsingel. Here you’ll find two buildings, the Praedinius Gymnasium and the Stadsschouwburg, both from 1880.

• At the end of this street, cross the bridge to the Sint Janstraat. This is where the Oude Rijksarchief building stands.

• At the Martinikerkhof, turn left again into the Popkenstraat. Walk around the Forum via the Nieuwe Markt.

• Turn right into the Schoolstraat. At the end of this street, turn right and walk a short way along the Poelestraat. Then continue left along the Peperstraat. Here you’ll find the Pepergasthuis (well worth a quick look inside).

• At the Pepergasthuis, turn right again into the Kleine Peperstraat and continue to the Carolieweg. At the end of this street, turn right into the Herestraat. Walk all the way along it, then turn left to the Vismarkt. There are several historic buildings here.

• Then walk to the right-hand side of the Vismarkt and follow the Akerkof. This is where the A-kerk stands. Walk around it and then turn right into the street called Schoolholm. At the start there is a former monastery.

• Follow this street all the way until you see a small street on the left. Turn into it, and at the end turn right again. At the beginning of the Folkingestraat there is an old Jewish school, and at the end the Jewish synagogue.

• Follow this until you reach the Gedempte Zuiderdiep. Turn left straight away and walk along the Zuiderdiep until you see the Herestraat again. Cross the road to the right here. This is the other part of the Herestraat.

• Continue to the Hereplein. Go straight on at the roundabout and cross the Herebrug. Then turn right and walk down the Stationsweg. You’ll come out at the station again, which is the end point.