Yihaa, we're going to Groningen! And we mean: out of the city and into the province. Groningen is a holiday destination in its own country that is not often mentioned first. And that's a shame, because there is so much to experience here. Picturesque villages, delicious food (the garden on your plate!) and encounters with interesting entrepreneurs who do things a little differently, whether it's sleeping, eating or guiding. And then you also have the Wad and National Park Lauwersmeer as your backyard. What more could you want? We'll take you there! Here are our tips for making a weekend break in Groningen a ten.
Groningen travel itinerary: tips for a weekend in the province
In cooperation with Waddenland Groningen
North Groningen is the destination of this trip. You drive through a landscape of fields and dykes, meander from village to village on narrow roads and above all: breathe tranquillity. This is an old part of the Netherlands. The villages here lie on centuries-old artificial hills - wierden - that used to provide protection from the water. You will find Romanesque churches, old farmhouses - often converted into bed and breakfasts or restaurants, cool - and traces of a landscape shaped by human hands for generations. It is not a region that overwhelms you with spectacle, but one that slowly wraps you up. Fine! You come here for the space, the tranquillity and the fine places you encounter along the way. From the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site to the bird-rich Lauwersmeer area. You will find picturesque villages like Warffum and Winsum to creative initiatives in surprising places. We understand why people keep coming back here. So do we!
Stop 1: check in at Savannah farm Verbaarum in Bedum
Location, location, location! A nice place to really unwind makes your weekend away unforgettable. And that is right here. Just outside Bedum you will find Savannah farm Verbaarum, an agro-ecological farm with glamping tents, wellness and amazing hospitality. You sleep here in the middle of nature in a luxury tent with all the trimmings: two nice bedrooms in your luxury tent (with super beds!), a kitchenette, bathroom, vintage furnishings and your own veranda with hammock. And as a bonus: a private hot tub and a shared sauna. Hello relaxation!
The farm is run by Remco and Christa, who really take sustainability seriously. They combine agroforestry - groups of trees with fruit and nuts, interspersed with a vegetable garden and pasture - into a smart, green system. What you see growing during the day is on your plate in the evening. In fact, Christa cooks with love for her guests and simply brings your dinner to your tent. They call it ’glamping and agro-ecology‘ themselves, we just call it: highly recommended. Tip: ask for a tour. Super educational to hear more about this way of farming and feeding. And anyway: take your time with this place. For the view, for the sauna, hot tub and that hammock or the fire you can make yourself on the fire pit. Just for a moment unwinding. But yes, we also understand that you want to explore the area. Tips galore. Come and get them!
Looking for a nature experience in luxury for your weekend getaway in Groningen? Then check out Savannah Farm Verbaarum. Watch the video we made of this beautiful place.
Stop 2: Discovering Winsum
Less than 15 minutes' drive from the glamping is Winsum, once voted the most beautiful village in the Netherlands. And rightly so. You just want to stroll through here: over bridges, along the canal, through the streets with old facades and cosy terraces. But above all, turn towards At Maarhuizen, just outside the village. This is an old farmhouse on a mound that has been transformed into a day café, workshop and meeting place. Always something to do: a theatre performance, an exhibition, a fermentation workshop or an hour of supping. Check the agenda in advance, as the programme changes regularly. And anyway: order something tasty, find a spot in the restaurant or on the terrace and look around. The garden is insane and the flower arch ensures the garden looks beautiful all year round. This is one of those places you'll want to come back to more often.
Fermentation workshop in Op Maarhuizen's garden with Diane van Atelier de Clementine! See more? Watch the video of this workshop.
Stop 3: Experiencing the mudflats at the WEC
Learn all about the Wadden Sea region at the Wadden Sea World Heritage Centre (WEC) in Lauwersoog. Here, everything revolves around life in and around the Wadden Sea - from benthic animals to birds, tides to climate. You will also find the famous seal sanctuary Pieterburen, where you can take a look inside the seal hospital. Extra tip: combine your visit to the WEC with a day on Schiermonnikoog. The ferry stops literally in front of the door here. Schier is our smallest inhabited Wadden Island, nice and clear, but no less beautiful. Rent a bike on arrival (you'll find bike rental near the jetty) and explore the dunes, beach and charming village centre in a few hours. We also have tips to make the most of your island visit: check out our Schiert tips.
Stop 4: Warffum & the open-air museum
Warffum, also a 15-minute drive from your glamping, is one of the oldest villages in Het Hogeland and well worth a stop. You'll find beautiful old buildings, cosy streets and plenty to do for an afternoon out. Start with lunch at The Dining Room, an atmospheric restaurant in an old school where they work a lot with local ingredients. Afterwards, walk on to the Het Hoogeland open-air museum. In this museum village, you walk past authentic Groningen houses, shops and workshops of yesteryear. This is a fascinating way to learn more about life in the countryside. Prefer to get creative? Then check before you go whether you can attend a screen-printing workshop at the studio of Mara Piccione. We did a session of ‘hot paperwork’: making your own stationery from old paper. Original and totally on the greener side, of course.
Left: A walk with forest ranger through Lauwersmeer National Park: Watch the video with forest ranger Jaap. Right: screen printing workshop: watch the video of this workshop here. And the open-air museum in Warffum: Watch the video of our walk through Warffum.
Stop 5: Lauwersmeer National Park
Fancy nature, birds and lots of fresh air? Set course for National Park Lauwersmeer. This area was once part of the Wadden Sea, but was closed off from the sea in 1969. Since then, nature has been given free rein and it has developed into one of the most special nature parks in the Netherlands. You will find vast marshes, rough grasslands, reed beds and lots of birds. And: it is an official Dark Sky Park, here you can still really see stars at night! Go boating on the lake, for example via the Butterfly Bellows, and climb to the top of Reiddomp watchtower on the south side of the park, where you can see Schiermonnikoog in clear weather. With children the mudflat path highly recommended: an adventurous boot trail through the wetlands. In summer the bird trail a classic, but you can also set out on your own with walking maps from the visitor centre. Prefer to go out with a guide? That's also possible. Check the agenda for excursions and activities.
Your greener itinerary for a weekend in Groningen!
And of course, there is much more to discover in the north of Groningen. Think charming villages like Usquert, Pieterburen, Ezinge and Appingedam, each with their own character and story. Still have time to spare? Just do it. Or linger at your glamping spot, book a sauna moment, immerse yourself in the hot tub and gaze at the stars. Because that's holiday too: not having to do anything, just enjoying yourself. Do you have another great tip for a weekend break in Groningen? Let us know! Find more holiday inspiration in our northernmost province here! Lots of fun and moi!
More tips to do in the north
- Also see: A city trip to Dokkum!
- Also see: A road trip through Friesland, tips for a week away in this province.
- Also see: Groningen (city)'s nicest sustainable restaurants.
- Also see: City trip Groningen: the best sustainable tips!
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
