Characteristic villages

Bourtange

By car: 50 minutes
By bike: 3.5 hours
By public transport: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Walking through the narrow streets of Bourtange feels like being transported back in time to the sixteenth century. The little village lies in the east of the Groningen province, a stone’s throw from the border with Germany.

Bourtange was built on a sand ridge where a marsh used to be. This made it an important strategic location. That’s why, in 1580, Willem of Orange commanded the fortress be made into a stronghold.

Bourtange hasn’t seen any damage since the Eighty Years’ War. While the village feels like an open-air museum, people do actually live there. There are various shops, historical houses to visit, and every Sunday, there’s a cannon-firing demonstration by the Exercitie Peloton Bourtange.

There’s also a field battle re-enactment every year, but you’ll have to wait until June 2026 for the next one.

Winsum

By car: 20 minutes
By bike: 45 minutes
By public transport: 14 minutes

In 2020, Winsum was named the prettiest village in the Netherlands, and for good reason: the little town, which is just fifteen minutes by train from Groningen, has no fewer than fifty-nine national heritage buildings.

There are old town houses with amazing façades, monumental farmhouses, and two old Dutch mills. And let’s not forget the classic arched bridge! The monuments are spread out across the village, often right at the edge of the Winsumerdiep, where small boats calmly glide by and the reflection of the old houses in the water looks like a painting. 

After a walk through the village, you can sit down on the patio at De Jongens uit de Buurt near the water. Or, even better: rent a canoe!

A day out

Lauwersoog

By car: 40 minutes
By bike: 2 hours
By public transport: 50 minutes

Lauwersoog is so much more than just a harbour with a ferry to Schiermonnikoog. Near the harbour is the Lauwersmeer area, one of the most beautiful national parks in the Netherlands.

You can sail, surf, swim, or tan yourself on and around the Lauwersmeer proper. It’s also a birdwatcher’s paradise. Apart from the hundreds of geese, the area is home to Eurasian teals, Northern pintails, sand martins, and pied avocets. Even more spectacular are the spoonbills and, if you’re lucky, you might even spot a white-tailed eagle.

You can always get a bite to eat at one of the many fish restaurants near the harbour, where you can often also buy freshly caught fish from one of the fishing boats. 

The Lauwersmeer area is also a dark sky park: one of the darkest areas in the Netherlands. So it’s a great place to spend a hot summer night lying on your back to admire the stars.

Schiermonnikoog

Ferry from Lauwersoog: 45 minutes

There’s no better place to spend an entire day than Schiermonnikoog, one of the most beautiful places in the Netherlands. And it’s less than two hours travelling from Groningen!

Schiermonnikoog is essentially car-free, which means tourists have to leave theirs at home. Almost the entire island is a national park and comprises expansive dunes, bunkers, forests, and salt marshes. The beaches are the widest in all of Europe.

In the village proper, you’ll find small white houses, an old lighthouse, and a handful of cosy shops and bars. One of them is the Tox Bar, which for years has been the place to be if you’re looking to party well into the night.

Schiermonnikoog is all about nature and peace; it’s not just perfect for a day out, but in the right company, you can easily spend a weekend there. 

You can rent a geared bike for just 8 euros a day. They’re available right as you step off the ferry, so you can start biking as soon as you arrive. 

For a sunny day

Garnwerd

By car: 20 minutes
By bike: 45 minutes
By public transport: 30 minutes
By boat (starting at the Reitdiep harbour): Approximately 1 hour, depending on the locks

Garnwerd is probably the loveliest place along the Reitdiep. The historical village is very small, but on a summer’s day, it’s almost as busy as the square at the Poelestraat.

You can cool down in the water at one of the many beaches, or sit down at one of the patios near the water to watch the boats go by.

The village can be easily reached by bike in 45 minutes, but it’s even nicer to travel there by boat. Rent a dinghy at the Reitdiep harbour. Instead of taking a standard tour of the city, follow the Reitdiep north and slowly make your way past the Groningen fields to this little gem. It’s not very cheap (195 euros), but the dinghy does fit eight people.

Tip: look up the times the lock closes before you start, or you’ll spend the entire day on the water.

’t Nije Hemelriekje
& Gasselterplas

By car: 40 minutes
By bike: 1 hour 45 minutes
By public transport: 45 minutes

If you’re not in the mood for the pub or a boat ride, and instead would like to spend a day near clear blue water and a tropical beach, ‘t Nije Hemelriekje or the nearby Gasselterplas is the place for you. 

Both are former sand quarries in the woods of Drenthe and have been transformed into two of the most beautiful swimming spots in the north of the country. 

‘t Hemelriekje is quite shallow and has a sandy beach where you can easily spend all day. A little ways away is the Gasselterveld, a deeper lake with crystal-clear water surrounded by pine trees and rolling hills. 

Whether you’re there to work on your tan, to swim, have a picnic, or simply enjoy nature, this place is a little slice of heaven in Drenthe. Bring your cooler, some beers, and a pool float, and you have everything you need for a perfect summer’s day.

Leekstermeer

By car: 25 minutes
By bike: 25 minutes
By public transport: 25 minutes

A swimming spot that’s slightly closer to Groningen is the Leekstermeer. It’s on the border between Groningen and Drenthe and is a perfect, more spacious alternative to the city beach or the Hoornse Plas. Especially when the latter two are infested with either trichobilharzia or blue-green algae. It’s a great place for swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, or just getting out onto the water in a dinghy. There are plenty of green spaces along the shore, with more than enough spots to tie up a boat. 

Around the lake, you’ll find several beaches and pubs or restaurants, such as Paviljoen Cnossen, where you can have a drink right at the beach. The area is also great for hikers or cyclists: the lake is surrounded by nature reserve De Onlanden, which has various routes. Ideal for a vacation without having to travel too far.

For the active people among us

Cycling route
Onlanden, Norg,
Paterswoldsemeer

Duration 2-3 hours

One of the most beautiful cycling routes around Groningen takes you through the Onlanden, a lovely nature reserve full of water, reeds, and great views.

Cycle south from the city and you’ll quickly find yourself in the marshes, surrounded by birds. Past Peize and Roden, you follow the route to Norg, where you can take a break at De Norgerberg in the middle of the woods. This cosy spot is the perfect place to eat grilled cheese and have a drink while surrounded by nature.

Leaving the picturesque village of Norg, you cycle through the woods to the open Drentse countryside. You’ll pass the village of Donderen and head straight for the Eelde airport.

From there, you turn north past the Paterswoldsemeer, where you can take a second break next to the water, and ride back into town from the south.

The route is approximately 50 kilometres long, and you can take either a road bike or your regular city bike. Depending on your speed and the number of breaks, it will take you approximately 2 to 3 hours.

Hiking at the
Drentsche Aa national
park and Balloërveld

By car: 25 minutes
By bike: 1 hour and 15 minutes
By public transport: 40 minutes

If you want to escape the busy city and commune with nature, take a train or hop on your bike and go to the Drentsche Aa and the Balloërveld. The areas are located between Groningen and Assen and are perfect for a walk in nature. There are winding brooks, fields of heather, sandy paths, and woods where you can wander for hours without running into anyone else.

The Balloërveld is especially nice during Indian summer, when the heather turns purple and you can run into the resident sheep herd. National park Drentsche Aa is a typically Dutch landscape, featuring old barns, small brooks, dolmens, and views that never get old. You won’t need any complicated maps; many of the routes are clearly indicated, and even if you do leave the path, you’ll always find yourself somewhere you can get a cup of coffee. 

Mudflat hiking
from Pieterburen

By car: 40 minutes
By bike: 1 hour and 25 minutes
By public transport: 57 minutes

If you want to spend a few hours walking on the bottom of the sea, your best bet is to go to Pieterburen or Lauwersoog during low tide, when the Wadden Sea turns into a hotchpotch of sandbanks.

You’ll pass salt marshes, sandbanks, and deep trenches where you’ll sink down quite. But don’t worry: while it’s hard work, mudflat hiking is completely safe.
Put on some shorts and sneakers you won’t mind getting dirty, and either spend three hours walking to Schiermonnikoog or just explore the sandbanks. Be sure to hire a guide, though. A hike will cost around 17.50.

For more information, click here.

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