There’s so much to do in Groningen that you really need a guide to help you uncover the city’s hidden gems. UKrant’s student editors share their cultural agenda with you. What’s their favourite venue and which events are absolutely not to be missed?
Grabbing a coffee and a pastry, whether alone or with friends, is my ultimate weekend treat. There’s something so grown-up about getting your daily caffeine fix somewhere other than a university vending machine. One of my favourite spots for this is Luhu.
Not only is the coffee great and the lemon butter cake absolutely delicious, but I also love the atmosphere. Unlike your typical coffee shop, there’s no ‘Sunday coffee chill’ playlist in the background. The radio is off, and no one is chatting. At least, not with their voices. Luhu is special: it’s the first café in the Netherlands entirely run by deaf people. Everyone who works there communicates in Dutch Sign Language (SLN).
As a hearing customer, you have to be more creative with your communication than just speaking. And I love that! The first time I ordered in sign language, I was a bit nervous. It’s a real multitasking challenge—making eye contact, getting the hand gesture right, and moving your mouth along with it.
Mistakes aren’t a big deal, though you will be corrected
But I enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone, especially when it comes to languages. Plus, Luhu is such a welcoming and safe space to practise new forms of communication. As long as you give it a try! Mistakes aren’t a big deal, though you will be corrected. That actually makes ordering even more fun for me.
I glance up at the screen above the bar, checking the signs for different drinks—coffee, herbal tea, cappuccino. How did it go again? I point to myself, then place both fists next to my ears and move them back and forth three times, as if repeatedly putting on a hood. ‘Cappuccino’, I say at the same time. The barista nods—she’s understood me.
As I take a satisfied sip of my cappuccino, I flip through a sign language dictionary. Every time I visit Luhu, I try to learn some new signs. Last time, I picked up ‘French toast’, and today it’s ‘goodbye’. Maybe next time, I’ll even manage to order a ‘chai latte’.
Luhu
Munnekeholm 4
Open: Tue-Wed 9.30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Thurs-Sat 9.30 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sun noon-4 p.m.
Where you’ll find me the coming weeks:
Gropo Bouldergym
When: Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat/Sun 9 a.m.-11 p.m.
Price: single tickets 11 euros (18-25 years) or 12.50 euros (26 and over)
Wobbly legs and holds that feel just a little too awkward, but also that rush of dopamine when you finally complete a route. I love puzzles, which is why I love bouldering—every climb is a new puzzle to solve, figuring out how to reach the top. You can make it as easy or as challenging as you want, and there’s plenty of time to ‘rest’ in between (aka sipping tea and chatting). Maybe that’s why this sport appeals to me so much… You can rent climbing shoes at Gropo, so it’s perfect to try out sometime!
Vera, OOST, Grand Theatre and Akerk | Hybrid Festival
When: March 1 from 8 p.m.
Price: 25 euros
The Hybrid Festival is a collaboration between Vera and OOST—exactly my kind of music. After ESNS, I always feel a bit of a void: I love discovering new music and completely losing myself in it. So, this festival couldn’t have come at a better time.
University Museum| Brainstorm: The human brain & research in Groningen
When: Tue-Sat 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun noon-5 p.m.
Price: free for students and UG staff
How is it that a lump of cells in our heads can make us feel anger, move our bodies, know how to brew coffee, and store childhood memories? I’ve been fascinated by the brain since I was young, so I can’t wait to visit this exhibition! I’m especially excited because it highlights Groningen-based brain research by scientists like Iris Sommer and Marie-José van Tol.
Martinikerk: Coldplay meets Imagine Dragons
When: March 1, 9.30 p.m.
Price: starting at 29 euros
On Instagram, I keep seeing ads for Candlelight concerts—classical performances in the Martinikerk by candlelight, often featuring modern songs. This time, I finally gave in: Imagine Dragons was the first concert I ever attended, and their music always makes me feel nostalgic.
Forum | Storyworld
When: Tue-Sun 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Price: students 6.50 euros (others 9.50 euros)
I was ten when I first visited Groningen with my grandparents. We went to Storyworld, which was then located in the McDonald’s building on Westerhaven. Now that the comic museum has moved to the Forum, I think it’s time for another visit—especially with the temporary exhibition on the story behind the Zelda video games, running until February 25.