Why go
- City and municipality in the Netherlands.
- Served by Leeuwarden Air Base (LWR).
History
Groningen is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. Dubbed the "capital of the north", Groningen is the largest city as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of the country; as of January 2025, it had 244,807 inhabitants, making it the sixth largest city/municipality in the Netherlands and the second largest outside the Randstad. As of 2025, the Groningen metro area had a population of 557,369 inhabitants.
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 5 direct destinations
- Transavia Holland HV (737-800) · 4 routes: Faro, Gran Canaria, Maastricht, Palma de Mallorca
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 2 routes: Gerona, Palma de Mallorca
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Leeuwarden Air Base (LWR); 10 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: GRQ has direct flights to 5 destinations on 2 airlines (incl. Palma de Mallorca, Faro, Gerona, Gran Canaria, Maastricht). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Rondvaartbedrijf Kool, 0.1 km); routes include voetveer Boterdiep, Noordlaren Osdijk - Recreatiegebied Meerwijck, Trekpontje Waterschapsheuvel.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Groningen, Netherlands. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.