Daily Life in Groningen
Master the art of Dutch living: Biking in the rain, shopping at the Vismarkt, and understanding why everyone sends you Tikkies.
Living Like a Local
Bike is King. Cars are guests. Pedestrians are obstacles. You bike everywhere, even in snow.
Going Dutch. We split everything. Expect a payment request (“Tikkie“) for as little as €0.50.
Vismarkt. Buy your fruit, veg, and fish at the market on Tue/Fri/Sat. It's sometimes 50% cheaper than stores.
Getting Around
The Bike Rule
Groningen is the “World Cycling City“. Traffic lights are synchronized for cyclists.
Swapfiets (The “Netflix“ of Bikes)
Approx €19/mo. Blue tire. If it breaks, they fix it for free. Best for hassle-free living.
Buying Second-Hand
€60-100 on Marktplaats. Cheaper long-term, but you pay for repairs (flat tires happen often!).
Warning: Don't park randomly in the center. The municipality removes bikes to the “Fietsdepot“. It costs €25 to get it back. Use the free underground parking (Grote Markt/Forum).
Public Transport
Buses are great but expensive. Trains connect you to the rest of NL.
- OV-Chipkaart
The yellow card for all Dutch transport. Buy one at the station (€7.50) and load money on it.
- OVpay
You can now check in/out directly with your debit card or phone. Same price, no separate card needed.
- Night Buses
Run on Thu/Fri/Sat nights to major districts. Regular buses stop around 00:30.
Cost of Living
Monthly Estimator
Must-Have Apps
- Tikkie: For splitting bills.
- 9292: Public transport planner.
- Buienradar: “Will it rain in 5 min?“ (Yes).
- Thuisbezorgd: Food delivery.
Payment Culture
Card Only: Many cafes and supermarkets (AH To Go) do not accept cash. You need a Maestro/V-Pay or a Debit Mastercard.
Shopping Hierarchy
Albert Heijn (AH)
The market leader. Good quality, huge selection, self-checkout everywhere. Expensive unless you get the “Bonus“ card.
Lidl / Aldi
Great for basics (bread, milk, veggies). The bakery section in Lidl is legendary. Much cheaper than AH.
Action / HEMA
Action is cheap heaven for cleaning stuff, cables, and bike lights. HEMA is for bedding, towels, and stationery.
Did you find this useful?
Help friends survive their first week. Share this guide!