Groningen
The northernmost province of the Netherlands is known for a combination of wide open space, proud local history and society, and strong business sectors. It is also known for having the cleanest air and the richest cultural offering in the whole of the Netherlands!
The City of Groningen has been a centre of trade and regional power since the Middle Ages, and is now a vibrant student city with a world top-100 university, a huge number of research institutes, a booming start-up scene; and nightlife that is the envy of the rest of the Netherlands!
The province of Groningen has a strong focus on taking a leading role in the energy transition, strong growth in bio-based economic sectors and and established digital community.
Quickly go to
- Recent developments in the province
- Facts and figures
- Founded in Groningen
- Company stories
- Interested in Groningen?
- More about NL

Recent developments in the province
- Home to a massive Google data center at the Eemshaven. The first one in the world to run completely on renewable energy
- Co-home (with Rotterdam) to the Global Centre on Climate
- Home to the New Energy Coalition, housed in the most sustainable education building in the Netherlands, the Energy Academy
- Home to the fastest growing start-up campus in the Netherlands
- Home to the largest potato starch producer worldwide - AVEBE - a cooperative of around 2500 farmers and as far as we know, the only place in the world to hold a potato harvest festival
- Home to World Heritage site Wadden Sea , the world largest tidal flats in the world
- Groningen has the richest cultural life of all Dutch provinces, according to this recent national cultural index (results in Dutch)
- Groningen does not only has the cleanest air in the Netherlands, the province is also in the top five in Europe for air quality satisfaction, according to the European Commission’s 2015 report
Facts and figures
- Population: approx. 580 000
- Population density: 242 people per square kilometer
- Biggest age group: 20 - 50 years old
- Number of medieval churches in the province: approx. 100

Founded in Groningen
Groningen works together with Friesland and Drenthe on an attractive and supportive ecosystem for startups and scale-ups. Founded in Friesland and Founded in Groningen together offer technology clusters and partners support from start to growth. With high-quality startup programmes, they provide knowledge, inspiration and connections with the right partners. Discover all about Founded in Groningen here. Curious which startups and scale-ups are situated in the North? Check the landscape overview in Dealroom.
Company stories
- Groningen's Career Services
- Medical Tech start-up
- Finding great opportunities in Eemshaven
Interested in Groningen?
- Find out more about municipal services, housing and more.
- Find out the opportunities for investment and business
- Find out about jobs for internationals in Groningen