Facilities

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Where can I get free wifi access in Groningen?

Students at the Hanzehogeschool and at the Rijksuniversiteit can use the computers in the classrooms or can get access with their own laptops to the Wi-Fi offered by the Hogeschool.

In the city centre, you can use the Wi-Fi in the restaurant La Place, which is situated in the shopping mall V&D (at Grote Markt 21i) there are two restaurants, on the ground floor and on the top floor.
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In the congress hall Martiniplaza, located in the Leonard Springerlaan 2.
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At the Airport in Groningen Eelde, located in Machlaan 12.
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Where can I buy my groceries?

Groningen has numerous supermarkets and stores for buying all the essentials for nutrition, hygiene and provisions. The opening times are normally from 8am until at least 8pm from Monday to Saturday. Some are opened longer; one is even opened on Sundays. Below you find a list with the more recommended supermarkets in the city of Groningen.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn is one of the most famous supermarkets in the Netherlands and with plenty of stores in the city, and especially in the city centre of Groningen. Open from 8am to 8pm, the supermarket at the street Akerkhof 1 even opens its doors until 10pm! On special Sunday shoppings the supermarket in the street Oude Ebbingestraat is open from noon – 6pm. On the following link you can find all Albert Heijn supermarkets in the city of Groningen with opening hours and a route planner. Just click on “winkels” and type in your 4-digit postcode here
For a plain overview of the Albert Heijn supermarkets in Groningen, just click here
At the Zernike complex of the Hanze Hogeschool, a new “Albert Heijn 2 Go” has opened, offering snacks and drinks.
Jumbo
Another very well equipped supermarket is Jumbo. Located in two areas of the city, the supermarkt in the street Beren 85 is open from 8am – 10pm every day while the other one is within the new football stadium in the street Boumaboulevard 525 and is open also on Sundays from 4pm – 9pm:
Parking space is available at both premises.
Aldi / Lidl / Super de Boer / C1000
Groningen hosts several other, smaller supermarket (chains). For a complete list, including address and opening hours, please check the following website: opentot.nl
Avondwinkels
Avondwinkels (that means "Evening Shops" in Dutch) in the city centre sell the most needed things at night, such as snacks, drinks, condoms and hygiene articles. While the prices are higher than in a supermarket, they are open till the middle of the night, which really comes in handy during the weekend.
The Markets
Vismarkt / Grote Markt
Dutch vegetables, fruits, meat and fish and cheese fresh from the field? Yes that is possible! Every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, the Vismarkt turns into an open market with many stands to buy fresh groceries, spices and herbs. From 8am to 5pm, you can find food and non-food article for decent prices in over 180 stands on both the Vismarkt and the Grote Markt. Try to go there early in the morning to buy the freshest or try to make your way there just before closing down, so you might get big discounts. directions
Nas & Mazzel
For an “alternative” shopping experience, we recommend spending a visit to the Nas & Mazzel shopping “center”, located at the street Damsterdiep 269. While you can try and purchase traditional goods from Groningen, you can get electronic goods (such as TV’s or refrigerators) at a much lower costs than in stores. The opening hours allow frequent visits:
Monday from 1–6 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am until 6 pm,
Thursday from 10am until 9pm
Saturday from 10 am until 5pm.
directions
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Where can I get a mobile phone?

Mobile Phone + Simcard

As a foreign student in a new country and environment, it is most crucial to have a mobile phone (cell phone) with you. You can bring your own mobile phone from home and use your old contract, but that will soon cause your monthly costs to skyrocket. We recommend bringing an empty mobile phone (empty = a phone with no simcard AND no simlock), so you can just buy a new simcard here, insert it and happily chat on the phone.
On the street Oude Ebbingestraat and the extension Nieuwe Ebbingestraat, you can find some shops, which sell both empty mobile phones and simcards. For international calling, we recommend using the provider “Lyca” or “Lebara”, as they grant free airtime for every topping up.
In case you want to have a contract for your mobile phone, then you should go to the street “Waagstraat", where several phone companies have their outlets, such as Belcompany and Vodafone. In the main shopping street, Herestraat, another few shops specialized in mobile phones are open for business. Even most supermarkets, such as Albert Heijn or Aldi offer their own simcards for phone credit.
If you are looking for a good deal, most of the pricefighters can be found online at (Dutch) sites like: studentmobiel, gsmweb or gsmwijzer
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I want to attend a religious service. Where can I go?

Religious institutions in Groningen

There are plenty of religious institutions in the city of Groningen, open for attending masses and services.

The Islamic centre of Groningen is located in the street Park Selwerd 1 and can be reached by phone under this number: +31 – (0)50 5731962. For latest news and the current praying times, please click on the following link:
moskeegroningen.nl

The Martinikerk, located in the street Martinikerkhof 3 offers Christian masses each Sunday at 9.30am and at 7pm. In addition, the student organization GSp gspweb.nl organizes ecumenical services each Sunday at 11.30am.

The Jewish community in Groningen,(Nederlands - Israëlitische Gemeente Groningen) located in the street Folkingestraat. For information and news about the Jewish tradititons, festivals and praying times, please click on the following link (in Dutch only): nig-groningen.nl

For the Buddhism centre of Groningen, you are encouraged to check out the following links that guide you to several places in the city, such as the Vipassana Meditation center in the street Kamerlingh Onnesstraat 71 or the Maitreya instituut in the street W.A. Scholtenstraat 2:

Maitreya Instituut
Vipassana Centrum
Boeddhistische Centrum Groningen
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Where can I buy furniture?

Buying new furniture in Groningen? Yes, you have various options to do so.

IKEA

The big Swedish home product company is located in the street Sontweg 9 offers simple, fine-looking and very affordable furniture. Most of the furniture involves constructing the parts yourself, but this way you can save a lot of money. IKEA also hosts a small restaurant. For the opening hours and further information, please check out Ikea.nl

Mamamini

For 2nd hand furniture (and cutlery, books, clothes, TV sets!) you have to check out Mamamini. Located in four places within the city (Noorderbinnensingel 100 (map), Helperoostsingel 15 – 29, Helperoostsingel 32 (map) and Damsterdiep 307 (map) these shops receive donations from people who do not need their belongings anymore. These things are sold at a very low price and all revenue is then donated to good causes. Really worth checking out and returning frequently.
In case you find a bigger piece of furniture and want to take it home, you can easily rent (for free) one of their “bakfiets”, that are bikes with a huge shelf space at front. In addition, anything that might not be of value for you anymore can be brought to one of the shops or even picked up by volunteers of Mamamini.
For more information, visit mamamini.nl

Fancy an auction? Then check out marktplaats.nl Much like the Internet platform ebay, marktplaats offers private people to sell and buy 2nd hand goods. You can easily score a nice deal! Check out the website and see for yourself (in Dutch only)
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Are there any Halal Butchers in Groningen?

There are several places in the city of Groningen where you can get meat slaughtered and handled using halal / حلال methods. These places have been in Groningen for several years and can be trusted.

Hielal Islamitische Slagerij directions
Located in the Folkingestraat 51, this Halal butcher offers the best deals in the city of Groningen when it comes to authentic halal food.

Alfsal Hallal Slagerij & Levensmiddelen directions
Located in the street Steentilstraat 9, this supermarket with own butcher offers a wide range of food.

Atlas Halal Slagerij directions
This butcher is located in the street Irislaan 55 in Groningen and also offers you food slaughtered in halal methods.
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Where can I store my belongings in Groningen?

In case you have to move out of your room or consider doing an internship abroad, having a place to securely store your personal belongings in Groningen comes in handy.
The most recommended place to consult is City Box

Storage space from 1m3 upwards and from 17,50€ you can store in a dry and safe surrounding with access from 6am till 11pm (7 days a week) with your own key.
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Where can I find a post-office?

Post Office

There are several small post offices in Groningen that you can use to buy and send
packets, envelopes and stamps. Most of these shops are more like a kiosk than a sole
post office, so you can get newspapers and magazines, as well as writing utilities
and snacks. For a detailed list of post offices in the centre of Groningen, click right here

For those that live nearby the border in Germany, some advice: it is much cheaper to send a
package from the Netherlands than from Germany!