The City In The Heart Of The Natural Gas Fields
January 30th, 2010
The City In The Heart Of The Natural Gas Fields
Groningen is the capital city of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands.Today it is an important industrial and commercial centre. The city sits at the heart of one of the world’s largest natural gas fields. This region has a largely flat terrain and agriculture is the main occupation.
The Heerestraat is Groningen’s biggest shopping street and all the famous brands and shops can be found there. A more recent shopping area is Westerhaven and for those more unusual purchases try the Folkingestraat or the Oude Kijk in t Jastraat. Once the cornerstone of Jewish Groningen the Folkingestraat is now one of the most diverse shopping streets in town. Nearly every day is market day in the city.
The city centre boasts no fewer than on hundred and sixty bars cafes and discotheques and scores of openair terraces on which to enjoy a summer evening.
Grote Markt is the main square of the city.
The Grote Markt the Vismarkt the Poelestraat and Peperstraat are crowded at night especially on Thursdays and Fridays when some bars do not close until 7 in the morning. Nightlife centre is not very big but offers plenty choice for everyone.Groningen’s nightlife is due its students population and cultural scene.
Groningen’s Flower is on every Good Friday when Dutch flowers are at their best a long row of market stalls winds through the centre of Groningen for the flower market with it fantastic cacophony of colour and smells.
The train station was built in 1896 and designed by L. Gosschalk. Its Jugendstil. In the 60s the building was renovated and rebuilt to the standards of the time.
Groninger Museum is an attractively designed modern building. We spent a few hours looking through the exhibits there are 3 floors to the museum and the exhibits are all attractively displayed. Exhibits included photography paintings and an exhibition called Services and Silver an exhibition of silverware dominated by tea and coffee cups and related works
The Gold Office is located just behind the Town Hall. It was constructed in 1635 and was originally intended for use as a tax office. Over the years the building has seen many uses having been a test bureau for gold and silver works a naval museum and a home for the tourist office. Today the building houses a restaurant. The paint work has been restored to the original colours red ochre and gold colour scheme.
About the writer: Douglas Scott writes and works for The Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Groningen Rental Site
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