Currency and Banks

The currency is the EURO. Other currencies can be changed at the banks and hotels. Banking times are 08.00-17.00 every day except Saturday and Sunday. Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants, shops and at the hotels.

Shopping

Most shops and department stores are open from 09.00 to 18.00 Monday to Friday. Saturday from 09.00 to 17.00 hours. Sunday all shops are closed. Major credit cards are widely accepted.

Power

Electricity Sockets take 2 pin round plugs. The electrical current in the Netherlands is 220 volts.

Time

The Netherlands is two-hours ahead on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), one-hour ahead Central European Time (CET) and seven-hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

Language

Dutch is the predominant language in the Netherlands but English is very popular and is spoken almost everywhere. The congress language is English.

Weather

The climate in The Netherlands is a sea-climate with temperatures in April between
15-22º C. It is helpful to note that there is always a chance of showers, due to variable weather patterns.

Transport

The best way to travel from Airport Schiphol Amsterdam to Groningen is by train. The NS-train station is located at Schiphol Airport. For all information visit the website of the NS. [Link]

Suggestions for social activities

Boat tour through the channels

A tour through the old channels of Groningen is one of the most popular excursions. You are given a unique opportunity to admire the many magnificent patrician houses and the towers of the town with their centuries of history.  City cruises take place on almost every day of the year exept on those days when extreme weather conditiones force us to cancel. Duration is one hour. Price for adults is € 9,00. [Link]

Groninger Museum

The showpiece of Groningen museums is undoubtedly the Groninger Museum; it’s striking pavilions designed by architects such as Alessandro Mendini and Philippe Starck are opposite to the central railway and bus station. This museum has a sensational brightly colored interior and wonderful exhibitions, including a permanent collections.
www.groningermuseum.nl; Hours of opening: Tuesday through Sunday and holidays from 10 AM – 5 PM, Friday evenings until 10 PM. Admission fee: €10,00.

Other museums in Groningen:

The Netherlands Stripmuseum (Comic Strip Museum) [Link]
Grafisch Museum (Graphic Museum) [Link]
Noordelijk Scheepvaart- en Niemeyer Tabaksmuseum (Nautical and Tobacco Museum) [Link]
Universiteitsmuseum (University Museum) [Link]

Restaurants and Nightlife

Groningen is a university city which becomes evident in the evenings. The city centre is great fun and crowded each night of the week, providing an excellent and varied choice of restaurants, cafés, theatres, and cinemas. Time flies in Groningen as there are no fixed closing hours.
In particular the Ellebogenbuurt has a high density of attractive restaurants and cafés, where quiet pubs alternate with bustling student pubs. The south side of the Grote Markt houses an enormous complex of linked pubs and discotheques, and there is live music in the centre every evening. Well-known names include De Spieghel (jazz), Café Buckshot (funk), and Café Koster (blues rock).

More touristic information is available at the Touristic Information Office, which is located at the Grote Markt, next to the Martini Church and Martini Tower. [Link]