Groningen Bingo: Spot 30 Typically Groningen Things
Walk the metropolis of the north, tick off the card, snap a photo of every typically Groningen thing you can find. From a Vismarkt bicycle pile to D'Olle Grieze rising over the Grote Markt, this is a 30-item Groningen bingo that turns any walk into a treasure hunt. No fixed route. Just keep your eyes open.
Challenges (30)
Spot a Groningen haring with onions
Find a Hollandse Nieuwe herring with chopped onion at a Groningen haringkraam (the Vismarkt has them). Photograph the silver fish.
Spot a Groningen bitterballen plate
Find a plate of bitterballen on a Groningen café table. Photograph the line-up.
Spot a Groningen stroopwafel
Find a fresh stroopwafel in a Groningen bakery. Photograph the warm wafer.
Spot a Groningen Dutch flag
Find a Dutch flag flying on a Groningen building. Photograph it.
Spot a Groninger flag
Find the Groninger provincial flag (with the green-and-red bands and the city arms) flying somewhere. Photograph it.
Spot a Groningen Vlaamse frites cone
Find a paper cone of Belgian-style frites at a Groningen friet stand. Photograph the dollop.
Spot a Groningen Dutch bicycle pile
Find a pile of stacked Dutch bicycles on a square (Vismarkt or near the train station; Groningen is the bicycle city of NL). Photograph the cascade.
Spot an FC Groningen kit
Find an FC Groningen (green-and-white) kit, scarf or flag. Photograph the colours.
Spot a Groningen stepped gable
Find a stepped gable (trapgevel) on a Groningen heritage facade. Photograph the silhouette.
Spot a Groningen Dutch cheese stall
Find a cheese stall on the Vismarkt or in a shop window with Gouda wheels. Photograph the stack.
Spot the Martinitoren (D'Olle Grieze)
Find the Martinitoren on the Grote Markt, the 97-metre brick tower of Groningen. Photograph the tower against the sky.
Spot the Martinikerk church
Behind the tower find the Martinikerk. Photograph the gothic facade.
Spot the Vismarkt Korenbeurs
Find the Korenbeurs (the neoclassical former corn exchange) on the Vismarkt. Photograph the columned facade.
Spot the Forum Groningen
Find the Forum Groningen, the modern angular tilted-stack building on the Nieuwe Markt. Photograph the cantilevered facade.
Spot the Forum Groningen rooftop view
Take the elevator (or stairs) up to the Forum rooftop and photograph the city panorama from above.
Spot the Groninger Museum colourful blocks
Find the Groninger Museum, the colourful Mendini-and-Coop Himmelb(l)au building on its own island in the canal. Photograph the bright cubes.
Spot Folkingestraat boutique storefronts
Walk down Folkingestraat (the most beautiful shopping street in NL) and photograph a vintage shop or independent boutique.
Spot a Noorderplantsoen pond view
Walk into the Noorderplantsoen park and photograph the duck pond or the central path.
Spot a Groningen brown café
Find a Groningen bruin café (dark wood, smoke-stained, beer pumps). The Mulder or De Doelen. Photograph the interior or doorway.
Spot a Groningen canal boat
Find a tour boat on the Diepenring or A Kerkhof. Photograph the boat from a bridge.
Spot a Groningen Eierbal
Find an eierbal (Groninger fried egg in batter) at a Groningen friet stand or snack bar. Photograph the spherical snack.
Spot a Groninger koek (kruidkoek)
Find a Groninger koek (spiced cake) in a bakery window. Photograph the loaf or slice.
Spot the Aa-kerk in the centre
Find the Aa-kerk (Der Aa-kerk) church with its red-orange tower near the Akerkhof. Photograph the church.
Spot a Groningen hofje
Find one of the Groningen hofjes (Pelstergasthuis, Heilige Geestgasthuis). Photograph the courtyard.
Spot a Folkingestraat tile or sculpture
Along Folkingestraat find the small tile mosaics or sculptures commemorating its Jewish past (Synagogue facade nearby). Photograph one tile.
Spot a Groningen street art piece
Find a piece of Groningen street art (Stoepa, Crystal Ship festival walls). Photograph the wall.
Spot a Groningen poffertjes plate
Find a poffertjeskraam with the cast-iron pan of small puffy pancakes. Photograph the pan.
Spot the Synagogue facade
Find the Folkingestraat Synagogue facade. Photograph the building.
Spot the University main building
Find the Academiegebouw (the University of Groningen main building) on the Broerstraat with its red-brick facade. Photograph the facade.
Spot a Vismarkt market day stall
On a market day (Tuesday, Friday, Saturday) find a stall on the Vismarkt. Outside market days, photograph the square. Photograph the stall or square.
Frequently asked questions
The duration is up to the organizer when they set up the adventure. As a guideline, a focused afternoon across the Grote Markt, Vismarkt, Folkingestraat and Noorderplantsoen ticks off most of the easy items, and stretching across a weekend (with the Forum and the Groninger Museum) lets a determined group complete all 30.
Each of the 30 items is a camera challenge. When you spot the thing, take a photo and submit it; the bingo card tracks progress. Play solo, with friends or split into teams and race to tick off the most items.
Some items (a Folkingestraat detail, the Groninger Museum colourful blocks) need a slight detour. Sweep the Grote Markt for the easy items, the Vismarkt for the bicycle parking, Folkingestraat for boutiques, the Forum rooftop for the view.
The Grote Markt, Vismarkt and Folkingestraat hit the most items in a walking loop. Add the Forum and Groninger Museum for the modern items, the Noorderplantsoen for parkland.
Yes. Kids love spotting the Martinitoren, herring stalls and stacked bikes; adults enjoy hunting Groninger Museum colours, Folkingestraat boutiques and the Forum rooftop. No alcohol stops are required.