What about Groningen?

As a citizen of Groningen, I pretty much have an insiders' point of view of the city. But how do people from outside of the city see Groningen?

First some theory, namely the concept of narratives in tourist interaction (McCabe & Foster, 2006), which describes that the way that tourists see the place they're going to is influenced by stories of friends and other tourists. This means that the image that the place has left with visitors will be transferred to other possible visitors through their stories and pictures, for example. Thus, shared experiences will influence the image of the city.

The 'Academiegebouw' of the University (photo by Reimer Vonk)

So what do people think of Groningen? As it is hard to measure many opinions about Groningen , I will look at what (foreign) tourist sites have to say. One of the most popular sites, Lonely Planet, says that Groningen might seem far away from 'the rest of the Netherlands', but that it has a lot to offer. Most features that are mentioned on Lonely Planet are also addressed in my previous blog posts, namely the Martini Tower and the Groninger Museum. It also states that, because of the university, there are a lot of young people, and that the centre is very calm because of the traffic ban. Another tourist site, Virtual Tourist, also points out these features, and adds that tourists should watch out for all the bikers. Lonely Planet states that Groningen is a city that has to offer something for everybody, with museums, the nightlife and the overall atmosphere. 

So how would this affect the tourists' view on Groningen? They'll probably see Groningen as a city with an easy and laid-back atmosphere, and with a certain grandeur with all the churches and buildings. This seems rather positive. I agree with this view on Groningen. Do you?

Bikes in front of the Central Station (source: ouderenjournaal.nl)

sources:

Scott McCabe & Clare Foster (2006) The Role and Function of Narrative in Tourist Interaction, Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 4:3, 194-215, DOI: 10.2167/ jtcc071.0

Lonely Planet on Groningen: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-netherlands/the-north-and-east/groningen-city

Virtual Tourist on Groningen: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Netherlands/Provincie_Groningen/Groningen-461234/TravelGuide-Groningen.html