Hoi from Groningen

It may be pronounced a bit like ‘Groan’ but it’s the place I’m least likely to groan in the Netherlands and everyone should circle it on their respective travel maps.

I say Groningen – or Grunn, but it’s actually a small town outside called Dullsville which I called my hometown for a few years.

This bad boy flew me, Indiana Jones style, to Groningen Airport. Groningen is a city is the far North of the Netherlands, where I went to college in my teens. Since it’s kind of my city and I always try to encourage people to go to the far North and see why I love the place so much. Groningen is a bit like Amsterdam, quite hip, easy to walk around and young, but without the zombie hoards of tourists.

I had a quick meetup with Olga from Team Confetti – where once a month I write a guest post – and she is the sweetest person I’ve come across in a long time. She by the way sells the best to do lists (and other printables) here.

And the The French toast was just €3.75 (that’s £3!). All of it!

The most most famous building in the city is Martini church on Grote Market (the main city square). It’s not too tiring a stair way walk to reach a nice spot for standing over the city like a power hungry dictator, though sadly no one listened to my demands from on high.

And then you get some delicious fresh made stroopwafel in your pie-hole – proclaimed as one of the best Dutch sweets by yours truly from the market.

Though it’s kinda obscured by an ugly concrete ramp from the front, Groningen Central station still looks like something from a fairy tale and check the wheel with wings on top.

The Groninger Museum is across from the station and is a highlight even if you don’t go inside, it’s main tower is the exact colour of everything I want in my kitchen (kettle, pots, plates). If you are a Bowie fan you might want to combine a city trip with a visit to the David Bowie is …  exhibition that currently in residency.

As soon as I get to Dullsville I jump on a bike – about 99% of Dutch life happens on a bike. I love the fact that I can go around without having to be scared someone will give you a free ride to the hospital.

A little as seen in: When a baby is born people put this in with either blue or pink accents in their garden.

And I close off with this photo of misty street of Dullsville.