Day 41: Amsterdam to Groningen

Every time I type the word ‘Groningen’ I have to google it to check I have spelt it correctly. Something about that second ‘n’ always makes me question myself.

Anyways, I am in Groningen.

I woke up with a mildly concerned email from my mother asking if I was planning to take the train part of the way from Amsterdam to Groningen, since it is nearly 200 km.

This was a bit of a surprise to me. I hadn’t looked at the route since I planned and booked it a week or so ago. I suppose I must have had another serious lapse in judgement or it was a result of me reverse engineering my route and then ending up with a bit too much left at the end. Either way, I took my mothers advice (Moms know best!) and I chopped a lot of the ride off with the train.

Somewhere between my hostel and Amsterdam Zuid train station my back tire went flat. I googled ‘bike store’ and made my way to the closest one, less than 2 km away. It wasn’t until I was back up and running and at the station that I realized they had also fixed my pannier rack screw.

Full disclosure: I never replaced the left side with a new screw because my water proof garden hose tape was holding so well.

I guess the bike mechanic was so dismayed by what he saw, he considered it his public duty to fix the situation. I get it. It was a pretty ridiculous set up. Now my bike is back in ship shape!

I took the train from Amsterdam Zuid to Assen. From Assen to Groningen it was only about 30 km, but it was already mid-afternoon when I arrived in Assen and I wanted to have some time to check out Groningen.

The short ride was enjoyable and I felt a difference, granted a small difference, from the south of the country. Of course it is still flat and largely rural, but it felt more ranch-rural than farm-rural – if that makes any sense. Rich, deep, rugged – as far as the Netherlands goes.

The hostel I booked in Groningen is a made up of old shipping containers that have been converted to dorms. They are arranged around a central courtyard. It is on a little deserted industrial island that is used for concerts and other such events now, I think.

From the small taste I got, I really like Groningen. It is a lively student city. And, even though university is not in session right now, I could sense that it would be a lively place when it is.

I will not pretend to know much about it’s history, but the architecture is really amazing. Everywhere I looked there were beautiful old buildings. The synagogue in the centre was spectacular.

I had a beer at Brouwerij Martinus, which was a neat local brewery with a cool space upstairs. There was a Dutch work party or something going on. The Dutch are loud.

I may attempt to check out the modern and contemporary art museum in the morning before setting off to Leer, Germany. I suspect a great deal of leering will take place.