As soon as the calendar shifts towards December, Groningen’s city centre turns into a lively winter scene. Lights shimmer above the streets, the Grote Markt bustles like a cosy winter village square and music sounds from every corner. Wintergoud is the new winter event that puts the city and surrounding villages in winter atmosphere from 28 November to 4 January. What you can do there? Read on quickly.
Strolling, strolling and getting warm
Winter Gold is created through the cooperation between local entrepreneurs, organisers and many volunteers who are eager to create something beautiful for the city. The programme is broad: from concerts and exhibitions to workshops, theatre and outdoor activities. Those who like to get moving can skate or join a winter sports activity. If you are looking for peace and quiet, you can walk through a museum or join an evening walk through a neighbourhood you would not normally visit.
If you walk along the illuminated quays at night, you will notice how the city slowly changes into a winter décor. You smell warm chocolate, you hear street music and on the ice rink a spontaneous conversation just arises. The winter markets meander through the city like a cosy procession full of small finds and tempting snacks.
Practical info
Many activities are free; for others you pay a small contribution. The Christmas tree on the Grote Markt is deliberately there early, so that that warm winter feeling can linger extra long. Almost all information is available in Dutch, German and English.
Programme
This year, there is again a lot on the programme. Some of the activities:
Atmospheric markets and winter cosiness
– Winter Town – 28 November to 4 January
Magical Christmas market on the Grote Markt.
10:00 to 22:00
– Winter World Market – 29 and 30 November
Winter world atmosphere at Camping De Kleine Wereld in Onnen.
10:00 to 21:00
– Swedish Christmas Market – 13 and 14 December
Swedish Christmas feeling on Suikerlaan.
10:00 to 17:00
– Winter Gold Market – 19 to 21 December
A large route along the Hoge der A, Turftorenstraat, Kromme Elleboog, Zwanestraat, Grote Markt, Vismarkt and Brugstraat.
17:00 to 22:00
– Christmas market Haren – 20 and 21 December
Christmas stalls around the Dorpskerk Haren.
11:00 to 17:00
Music, light and culture
– Stars on the Star – 6 to 28 December
Performances by local talent on the Star on the Grote Markt.
16:00 to 20:00
– Light show Martinikerk – 11 to 13 December
Light artwork ‘When the Sun Meets the Horizon’.
– Winter Carillon Concert – 12 December
Free concert celebrating 500 years of tower music.
17:00 to 19:00
– Christmas Café – 19 December
Singing Christmas classics together in the Forum.
– Christmas City Walk – 20 and 21 December
Experience the Christmas story on a walk along iconic spots.
– Roald Dahl Festival – 28 to 30 December
The merriest children’s festival in the Forum.
10:00 to 17:00
Active and outdoors
– Winter Gold Hoogkerk – 28 and 29 November
Winter atmosphere in Hoogkerk’s Historic Harbour.
– Lutje Local Saturday – 29 November
The city dedicated to local makers.
10:00 to 17:00
– City Park Nightrun – 12 December
Running through the dark on the athletics track.
19:00 to 00:00
– Winterfun Kardinge – 20 and 21 December
An active winter weekend in Kardinge.
– New Year’s Plunge Cold and New – 1 January
Freshen up the new year with a dip in the Hoornseplas.
Food, atmosphere and togetherness
– Christmas tree lighting – 6 December
The festive month officially begins on the Grote Markt.
– Mourning and celebrating in the greenhouse – 13 to 28 December
A place on Waagplein to remember someone or share a moment.
– Gold Eating – 19 to 21 December
Winter dishes at the Akerk.
17:00 to 22:00
– Westerhaven Wonderland – 19, 20 and 21 December
The Westerhaven as a cosy winter wonderland.
– 3, 2, 1 Gold and New Year – 31 December to 1 January
Countdown together on the Vismarkt.
20:00 to 02:00
The big crowd favourite
– WinterWelVaart – 19 to 21 December
Historic ships, light lines and winter atmosphere in the A Quarter.
17:00 to 22:00
And as soon as you walk through the city, you notice that you hardly need to look. The lights automatically take you from one place to another.
Looking beyond Winter Gold
Groningen also buzzes outside the festival. Think winter walks, cosy cafés where you slowly thaw or Christmas markets in small villages in the surrounding countryside, where winter sometimes feels almost medieval.
Photo: Jasper Moulijn
