Groningen

of the titles of this article is ambiguous. For further meanings see Groningen (term clarifying).

Municipality Groningen


(Flag of Groningen)	(coat of arms of Groningen)

province

Groningen

mayor

Jacques whale situation

seat of the municipality

Groningen

surface
- country
- water

83.69 km ²
79.59 km ²
4.10 km ²

inhabitants

- population density

180,435
(1. June 2005)
2,272 Einwohner/km ²

coordinates

coordinates: 53° 13 ′ 2 " N, 6° 34 ′ 29 " O 53° 13 ′ 2 " N, 6° 34 ′ 29 " O

important traffic route

A7, A28

preselection

050

postal zip codes

9700-9749

official Website

www.groningen.nl

Groningen [ˈxroːnɪŋə] is the capital of the province Groningen in the Netherlands. The city has approximately 179,400 inhabitants (2004 , with the surrounding countryside 350,000) in an area of 76,77 km ² and lies at the channels Winschoterdiep, Noord Willems Kanaal, Van Starkenborghkanaal and at the Eemskanaal, which connects the city with Delfzijl at the North Sea Coast. In Groningen is a university. In addition a professional school, the Hanzehogeschool is in Groningen. The moreover one Groningen is twin city of Oldenburg (Lower Saxony).

1 history
2 objects of interest
- 2,1 bicycle traffic
3 politics
4 culture and spare time
5 personalities
of 6 sons and daughters of the city
7 Web on the left of

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history

the city Groningen or Cruoninga - as it was called in former times - developedfrom a loose union of three or four scatters convenient farms. The first traces can on approx. 300 v. Chr. are dated. From 600 to 700 n. Chr. there was a firm settlement of the area of the today's city center - „deGrote market “(German: the large market). The first namentliche mention originates from the year 1040.

Groningen is itself because of the northern end „of the Hondsrug “(not to confound with the Hunsrück), a sandigen collection in the middle in the formerly expanded moorland, of„And was in earlier time the only connection of these two areas pulls Drent plateau “up to „the Hogeland “. By its situation the city could attain a central meaning in the region. Many buyers with England and the Baltic Sea countries acted, leftitself here down. Up to 17. Century - which „golden ages “of the Netherlands had Groningen to a flowering commercial centre developed, not least, since there was here a court, which was responsible for the surrounding areas also. 1594became Groningen as well as the surrounding areas a part of the republic of the united Netherlands.

1672 tried the bishop von Münster to occupy Christoph Bernhard von Galen the city by FE storage and cannon bombardment. Its Faible for the artillery broughtit the pointed names „Bommen Berend “„cannon bishop “. To 28. August 1672 could be attack to be repelled. Of this event today a local holiday with many activities reminds in Groningen until.

In the Second World War the city suffered substantial damage. As inThey had reached, encountered April 1945 the allied Groningen violent resistance of the German occupation troops. A part of the city center had to be conquered by violent road fights. The buildings, which had developed thereafter in the context of the reconstruction, are in the meantime the subject of violent debates.Many want to replace it by more beautiful.

From the region Groningen originates the horse race „Groninger “.

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objects of interest

Groninger museum

the university in the city center, the Akademiegebouw, is very worth seeing. It became from the same architect as that Of Bremen city hall built. In addition there is the 97 m high Martiniturm, delighted between 1469 and 1482 from Bentheimer sandstone (bath Bentheim) and the appropriate church at „the Grote market “.

That is likewise outstanding 1994 inaugurated and from the designer Alessandro Mendini in co-operation with the architects Michele de Lucchi, Philippe Starck and Coop Himmelb (l) outer sketched „Groninger museum “. Its self-willed Design and the interesting situation - in the water provided for international attention. Are shown, beside changing exhibitions, alsoExhibits of the pre and early history of the province Groningen and the collection worth seeing Chinese pro cellto.

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bicycle traffic

after a European-wide investigation of the VCÖ is Groningen of the front runners, which concerns the portion of the bicycle of traffic. About 50 per cent thatWays are put back here with the wheel, compared to Amsterdam and Bremen (22%) or Munich (15%) and Berlin (10%). Regarding the motor traffic one considers to permit drivers only travels into the interior districts if at least a second personthe car shared, the actual city centre is even completely auto-free.

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politics

the local council have 39 seats. The social-democratic PvdA is the largest party with twelve seats. The FR is, with seven seats second. Since that 26. Aprilthey are together with GroenLinks in the coalition. The liberal VVD and the CDA are many smaller after the local council choice and lead the opposition.

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culture and spare time

the leisure offer in Groningen are various. So the city hasto offer some interesting museums. Beside „the Groninger mentioned above museum “know „the Natuurmuseum “, which „Noordelijke Scheepvaartmuseum “with tobacco museum, and which „Universiteitsmuseum “are visited. A special high point is also „the Nederlandse Stripmuseum “- the Netherlands Comic - museum.

Each year lurethe Popfestival „Noorderslag “and the Theaterfestival „Noorderzon “of thousands of visitors.

In the traffic-calmed down city center with their many pedestrian precincts and Strassencafés it can be bought pleasantly.

For Nachtschwärmer innumerable taverns open their gates. In „the Osterpoort “and into „the Stadsschouwburg “concert comesand theatre-inspired at its expense.

The Holland Casino operates here one of its twelve branches.

The largest daily paper of Groningen is the Dagblad van het Noorden

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