Free time activities
- There are a lot of student organisations in Groningen. A handpicked favorite is ESN Groningen. You can just participate in events with a small membership fee, and you can even join a committee for a semester and help organise events in a group of 5-7 people.
- There are many opportunities for academic activities to enrich your knowledge at university in Groningen. For example:
- You can also join the academic program Honours College if you are up for a challenge in your semester. Specifically, this would be one-year Leadership academy program with extra classes and workshops.
- There are so many nice lectures always announced by the university and they’re usually free of charge to attend, as they’re organized by student societies of the university! Usually, they’re held in the Academic building in late evening hours on weekdays. Use this link to discover more!
- On the website of Groningen Life, you can also find tips for other things related to student life.
- If you’re into spots, we can’t help it but recommend the student sport center of the university, ACLO Studentsports Groningen! With only 50 euros per semester, you have access to limitless amount of group classes in the three buildings of the sport center (ACLO Sportcentrum Blauwborgje, ACLO Sportcentrum Stationplein, WAS) taking place from as early as 8 in the morning to almost 10 or 11 at night. For these classes you can register any time you want before the class. However, since spots are limited, you have to be careful canceling your slot, because if you cancel very close to the class starting time a few times, you might be fined. By the way, you also have access to group classes going by academic block, where you are learning a new sport (i.e. tennis, martial arts) free of charge again (for that, you might have to visit other sports facilities in the city). To register to these classes, you have to participate in a ruffle first, after you have obtained your subscription, and you’re going to get one of your choices most probably. Just have to keep an eye, because these ruffles don’t go on for too long!
- Take many walks (or runs?!) into nature! Groningen has more parks and natural spots than we can count, so below we have highlighted some student-favorite spots:
- Visit Haren by bike! Haren is a neighbouring city to Groningen and, especially in the fall and in the spring, with all the different colours in the trees and plantations going on, biking there can be so fun! While you’re at it, you might also want to pay a visit to the Botanical gardens shared between the municipality of Groningen and Haren! Visit this little tea house inside the gardens if you go, it’s a real must!
- Visit the weekly flea market in Vismarkt!
- If you’re in Groningen in January, you might also want to keep an eye on the annual Eurosonic music festival, students have suggested.
Recommendations by our students 🍽️
- Coffee Shops, food, bars, and other
- Study spots
- Museums and attractions