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Published May 27, 2026

Why Groningen belongs on your Dutch shortlist

Most internationals moving to the Netherlands look first at Amsterdam, then maybe Utrecht or Rotterdam. Groningen rarely makes the list, and it probably should. It is a small city in the far north, two hours from Amsterdam by direct train, with a university that has been pulling people in for four centuries. The result is something quietly unusual: a compact Dutch city where international life is already the norm rather than a future ambition.

An international city, not in name only

Nearly one in four Groningen residents has an international background, and over 120 nationalities live there. The northern provinces together host roughly 72,000 internationals. Between the University of Groningen and Hanze University you'll find more than 12,000 international students, many of them in technology, energy, life sciences and AI. English works in cafés, shops and most workplaces, which makes the early weeks far less stressful than people expect.

Housing you can actually find

This is where Groningen's case sharpens. The average house price in the province sits around €384,000, compared with €731,000 in Utrecht. Rentals are tighter than they used to be, so realistic expectations help, but the market is nothing like the Randstad scramble. You can plan around it rather than fight it.

Work, and what's growing

Groningen's startup ecosystem grew 37% in 2025, one of the fastest rates in the country, and the province ranks in the top three nationally for VC investment per capita. The strengths cluster around life sciences, energy and digital innovation. The city has also committed to becoming CO2-neutral by 2035, the most ambitious target of any Dutch municipality, backed by over €66 million through the New Energy for Groningen programme. If you work in sustainability or engineering, few places in the country are moving faster.

The catch, honestly

Winters are dark, the wind off the North Sea is real, and Amsterdam-level nightlife is not what's on offer. What you get in return is a livable, cyclable, properly international city where housing is within reach and your sector is investing.

According to Nuffic, 36% of international graduates would stay in the north if the right job opened up. If you're already weighing your options, Groningen is worth looking at before Amsterdam decides for you.

judith

Judith Roetgering

Managing Director at Rehive People

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