1s92016 The city was founded on the northemmost point ofthe Hondsrug area. ‘The oldest document referring to Groningen's existence dates from 1040. However, the city aleady existed long before then: the oldest archaeological traces found are believed to stem from the years 3950— Groringen- Wikipedia, the ree encylopedia 5.70 km? (2.20 sq mi) Heevation!>) 7m (23 f) Population (Municipality, May 2014; Urban and ‘Metro, May 2014)(4115) 3720 BC, although the first major settlement in Groningen i + Municipality 197,823 has been traced back to the 3rd century AD. + Density 2.s3s/im? (6570/¢q md Inthe 13th century, when Groningen was an important trade | * Urban 216,655 centre, its inhabitants built a city wall to underline its + Metro 360,748 authority. The city had a strong influence on the surrounding | Demonym(s) __Groninger Jands and made its dialect a common tongue. The most Time zone CET (UTCH) influential period ofthe city was the end ofthe 15th century, | Summer (DST) CEST (UTC2) when the nearby province of Friesland was administered ) from Groningen. During these years, the Martinitoren was | Posteode 9700-9747 built, which loomed over the city at (then) 127 metres tall. Area code 050 ‘The city's independence came to an end when in 1536, it Website gemeente. groningen.nl (http2//ge chose to accept Emperor Charles V, the Habsburg ruler of meente.groningen.n) the other Netherlands, as its overlord. Later, it joined the Republic of the Seven United Historical population Provinces. Year Pop. 2% Tn 1614, the University of Groningen was founded, 1400 5,000 ooo initially only for religious education. In the same 1560 12,500 10.57% period the city expanded rapidly and a new city wall (1600 16,600 40.71% ‘was bull, That same city wall was tested during the 1721 20,680 40.18% ‘Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, when the city was 1770 23,296 +0.24% Map of aracked fereey by the ‘bshep of Mister, Bemhard 1787 22,000 34% roningen, von Galen. The city walls resisted, an event that is st % 1925, celebrated with music and fireworks on August the 225 23,79 —_ 10.97% 28th (as "Gronings Ontzet" or "Bommen Berend"). ees & Lucassen 1997, The city did not escape the devastation of World War II. In particular, the ‘main square, the Grote Markt, was largely destroyed in April 1945 in the Battle of Groningen. However, the Martinitoren, its church, the Goudkantoor, and the city hall were not damaged. The battle lasted several days. University of Groningen ‘The University of Groningen (in Dutch: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) bas a rich academic tradition that dates back to 1614, After the University of Leiden, its the second oldest Dutch university, The university educated the first female student, Aletta Jacobs, the first Dutch national astronaut, Wubbo Ockels, the first president of the European Central Bank and a Nobel prize winner, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, 200,000 people were either students, teachers or researchers at the university. Groningen has the highest percentage of students by total population, approximately 25 percent. Boroughs of Groningen, which have no political or physical significance Art, culture and nightlife ‘The city is nationally known as the "Metropolis of the North" and as "Martinistad" referring to the tower of the Martinitoren, namend after its patron saint Martin of Tours. epssin kpc. org iiGroningen ane