Moving to Groningen

The city center of Groningen is car-free and bustling with shops, cafes and restaurants. The Schildersbuurt and Oosterpoort are popular with students and starters. Helpman and Haren (recently merged with Groningen) are popular with families.

Paddepoel and Vinkhuizen are more affordable neighborhoods with good facilities. The Europapark district offers modern new construction.

Groningen is one of the most affordable cities in the Netherlands. Rental prices are between 750 and 1,200 euros per month in the private sector. The city center is the most expensive, but still considerably cheaper than the Randstad.

The University of Groningen (RUG) and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences are the most important institutions with together more than 60,000 students. Education at all levels is well represented with more than 60 primary schools.

The UMCG (University Medical Center Groningen) is one of the largest academic hospitals in the Netherlands. There is also the Martini Hospital. The care is excellent for a city of this size.

Groningen has a good bus network (Qbuzz) and direct trains to Zwolle, Leeuwarden and Amsterdam (approximately 2 hours). The city is very bicycle-friendly - more than 60% of all trips are made by bicycle.

Many student homes in the center have narrow stairs. A moving lift may be necessary. The municipality of Groningen offers a simple online system for reporting your move.