Groningen is a seaside town that has a long involvement in the shipping industry dating back to its participation in the Hanseatic League. The 20,000 students who live here help contribute to Groningen's famously lively ambience. Attractions are diverse, from the maritime and tobacco museum, to the controversial Groninger Museum, to the Martinikerk tower and the Renaissance gardens that lie behind it. It's easy to find accommodations in historic buildings, and your options for dining and nightlife range from the tame to the eclectic. Just don't bring a car, because Groningen's city center is only open to pedestrians and bicycles.
