Groningen (city)
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| Groningen | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Groningen |
| Area (2006) | |
| - Municipality | 83.69 km² (32.3 sq mi) |
| - Land | 79.59 km² (30.7 sq mi) |
| - Water | 4.10 km² (1.6 sq mi) |
| Population (1 January 2007) | |
| - Municipality | 181,819 |
| - Density | 2,284/km² (5,915.5/sq mi) |
| Source: CBS, Statline. | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Groningen is the capital city of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. It is with a population of 185,000 by far the largest city in that area. Approximately 40.000 students are enrolled at the city's educational institutions Hanzehogeschool and Rijksuniversiteit.
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[edit] History
The city was founded on the northernmost point of the "Hondsrug" area. The most ancient written document pointing out that Groningen's existence emanates from the year 1040. However, the city already existed a long time before that year, for the oldest archaeological traces found are believed to stem from the years 3950-3720 BC and the first real civilization in Groningen has been traced back to the third century.
In the 13th century, when Groningen was an important trade center, its inhabitants built a city wall so as to claim its authority. The city had a strong influence on its surrounding lands and made its dialect a common tongue. The most influential period of the city was the end of the 15th century, when the nearby province of Friesland was mainly under its regime. During these years, the Martini Tower was built which loomed over the city at 127 meters tall. It was the highest building in Europe at that time. But an end came to the city's independence when it chose to join forces with the Spanish during the war in 1594, and later decided to switch sides, joining the Republic of the United Netherlands.
In 1614, the University of Groningen was founded, initially only for religious education. In the same period the city expanded rapidly and a new city wall was built. That same wall would later, in 1672, be fiercely attacked by the bishop of Münster, Bernhard von Galen but the wall resisted and Groningen kept its freedom. To date, the resistance is celebrated on 28 August, when the city bustles with music and fireworks.
The city did not escape the devastation of the Second World War. Especially the main square, Grote Markt, was largely destroyed in April 1945, at the end of the war. However, the Martini Tower and its church, the 'Goudkantoor' (Gold office) and the City Hall were not damaged.
[edit] Art, culture and nightlife
Although Groningen has a relatively small population for a city, it does have a role as the main center of this part of the country, concerning music, arts, education, business and cuisine. The earlier mentioned great number of students living in Groningen also attributes to a diverse cultural scene for a city of its size
[edit] Museums
The most important and most famous museum in Groningen is the Groninger Museum. After the construction of its extravagant new home, the building has transformed into one of the most modern and innovative museums in the Netherlands. The city also has its own science museum, a comics museum and a tobacco museum.
[edit] Theatre and music
Groningen has its own City Theatre (Stadsschouwburg), located on the Turfsingel, a big theatre and concert venue called "Martini Plaza" and another major cultural venue on the Trompsingel, called the "Oosterpoort." Then there is "Vera" located on the Oosterstraat, "Grand Theatre" on the Grote Markt and "Simplon" on the Boterdiep.
[edit] Nightlife
Groningen's nightlife is due to its students population and its cultural scene is vibrant and remarkable for its size. In particular the Grote Markt, the Vismarkt, and the Poelestraat and Peperstraat are crowded at night, especially on Thursdays and Fridays when some bars do not close until 7 in the morning. In 2006 Groningen was elected "de beste binnenstad" (the best town center) of the Netherlands.
[edit] Sister cities
The city is twinned with the following cities[1]:
Graz
Jabalya
Kaliningrad
Katowice- Murmansk
Newcastle
Odense
Oldenburg
San Carlos
Tallinn
Tianjin
Zlin
And with the state of 
Michigan
[edit] Politics
The city council has 39 members. The left wing parties PvdA and GroenLinks are the largest. After the elections in 2002, they formed a coalition with CDA and VVD. Jacques Wallage has been the mayor since 1998. As a result of the elections of 2006, three left wing parties (PvdA, GroenLinks and SP), decided to form a new coalition, which was appointed on April 26th, 2006.
[edit] Industry
There are two sugar factories in Groningen, operated by CSM and Suikerunie respectively. The factories produce around 600,000 tonnes of beet sugar annually (2005 figures).
[edit] Transport
Groningen has been called the "World Cycling City" since nearly 50% of journeys within the city are made by bicycle. The city is very suitable for those who want to get around without a car, as it has an extensive cycle network, good public transport services, and a large pedestrianized zone in the city center.
[edit] Football stadium
The football (soccer) stadium of FC Groningen is called Euroborg. Opened in January 2006, the stadium has 20,000 seats. The Euroborg is nicknamed De Groene Kathedraal (the green cathedral) and De Groene Hel (the green hell). The former football stadium of FC Groningen is the Oosterpark Stadion (12,500 seats).
[edit] Born in Groningen
- Roche Braziliano (ca. 1635), pirate
- Daniel Bernoulli (1700), mathematician and physicist
- Jaap Eden (1873), athlete, world champion in speed skating and cycling
- Julia Culp (1880), mezzo-soprano, the "Dutch nightingale"
- Samuel van Houten (1837), politician, cabinet minister
- Johan Huizinga (1872), historian
- Jozef Israëls (1824), painter
- Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831), painter
- Heike Kamerlingh Onnes (1853), physicist, Nobel laureate
- Gerard Kemkers (1967), ice speed skater and coach
- Ida Vos (1931), writer and poet
- Wim T. Schippers (1942), comedian
- Corrie Winkel (1944), athlete, Olympic silver medalist
- Joanna Gash (1944), Australian politician
- Alfred Lagarde (1948), radio deejay
- Jan Sloot (ca. 1945), inventor, claimed to have invented a revolutionary data compression technique
- Rutger Smith (1981), athlete, world championship silver medalist
- Stephan Veen (1970), athlete, Olympic field hockey champion
[edit] Trivia
The city is nationally known as the "Metropolis of the North".
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- CSM sugar
- Groningen Official Website
- Groninger Museum
- Publicexpress bus line
- Tourist information
- Map of Groningen
- University of Groningen
- Vera - club for the international pop underground
- Webcam - shows Oude Ebbingestraat
- Second World War History
- Groningen on Google Maps
- Shows 360° Fullscreen panos from groningen
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Appingedam | Bedum | Bellingwedde | Delfzijl | Eemsmond | Groningen | Grootegast | Haren | Hoogezand-Sappemeer | Leek | Loppersum | De Marne | Marum | Menterwolde | Pekela | Reiderland | Scheemda | Slochteren | Stadskanaal | Ten Boer | Veendam | Vlagtwedde | Winschoten | Winsum | Zuidhorn |
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