General Information
About Groningen
As a lively university city, Groningen has the youngest average population in the Netherlands because of the substantial number of student residents: there are over 50,000 students in higher and university education. It has a long and turbulent history, which becomes evident from the historic warehouses, courts and buildings. Groningen is also a city with nerve, with the most numerous examples of innovative architecture within its boundaries. In addition, it was once proclaimed the city with the best city center in the Netherlands because of its charm.
Nightlife
Groningen has its very own energy because of the large number of young people in higher or university training. They provide an economic boost to the city and ensure a wonderful nightlife. The cafés and clubs, in particular those at the Grote Markt and in the Poelestraat, are immensely popular among students. There is no fixed closing time, so take the opportunity to enjoy what the city has to offer until the wee small hours.
City of Talent
The Treaty of Groningen is a collaboration between the University of Groningen, the Hanzehogeschool Groningen, the University Medical Centre and the municipality of Groningen with the objective of further developing the city as the ultimate knowledge and innovation city in the north of the Netherlands and to retain Groningen alumni.
For further information about the city please visit the Groningen life website.
Currency
Holland is one of the nineteen euro countries. Very few shops, restaurants, etc., accept the € 500 note. Small shops and supermarkets do not accept the € 200 and € 100 notes either. When you pay in cash, the amount is rounded off to the nearest € 0.05.
Public Transportation
The main public transport in the Netherlands for longer distances is by train. Long-distance buses are limited to a few missing railway connections. Regional and local public transport is by bus, and in some cities by metro and tram.
The most common form of public transport in Groningen is the bus. There are numerous bus lines running through Groningen and there’s always one which can take you where you need to go. There’s no need to wonder which line you need to take since there is a door to door journey-planner on the internet which can give you the fastest way of travelling and which bus line to take wherever you are in the Netherlands.
Electricity
The voltage on outlets in Holland is 230 volts. Hotels may also have a 110-volt or 120-volt outlet for shavers. Travelers are advised to bring along a power converter and an adapter for round two-prong plugs with side grounding contacts.
Language
The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch. Many Dutch people also speak German and English. The language of the meeting is English.
Local Time
The Netherlands is two-hours ahead on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), one-hour ahead Central European Time (CET) and seven-hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.
Telephone
The international access code for the Netherlands is +31. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0031 for the Netherlands).
Emergency services (police, fire services and ambulance): 112
Police (non-emergencies): 0900 – 8844
Weather
Holland has a mild, maritime climate. The summers are generally warm with changeable periods, but excessively hot weather is rare. The winters can be fairly cold with the possibility of some snow. Rainfall is prevalent all year. Please click here to view the current weather.