The beautiful European city just as pretty as Amsterdam that hardly receives any

If you’re looking to experience the Netherlands, but without the crowds of tourists in Amsterdam, Groningen is the place to be.

Groningen is the capital of the Groningen province at the northern tip of the Netherlands.

It’s only a two-hour train ride from the Dutch capital of Amsterdam but hardly receives any tourists as most people skip Groningen in favour of places like The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and, of course, Amsterdam. 

It is home to about 235,000 people, making it the sixth-largest city in the country.

It’s culturally similar to the rest of the country, but most Dutch citizens rarely, if ever, venture up to Groningen, unless they have business there. 

Getting anywhere in the Netherlands is pretty simple, thanks to the train service, NS. From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, it’s a two-hour direct train to Groningen Central Station, just outside the city centre. 

Groningen also has a small airport, which only offers flights to popular holiday destinations such as the Canary Islands, Majorca, and Kos.

The Dutch city is known for several things, including cycling and the high population of students.

Some 70 percent of residents have no religious affiliation, the Dutch football superstar, Arjen Robben, is from the province and started and ended his career at FC Groningen, with stints at Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich between.

In addition, the Groningen province is known for sitting on one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world.

As the city doesn’t receive much in the way of tourism, there are not many hotels in Groningen.

The Prinsenhof is the most luxurious among the few, located in the city centre, with an in-house French restaurant and stunning views of Groningen. A standard room costs approximately £173 per night.

One easy way to see all of the highlights in Groningen is to go on a walking tour or a canal cruise with a local tour guide, and experience the quiet city and its beauty.