Gazing Groningen

The Tourist Gaze (John Urry, 1991) is a concept that defines the way tourists look at something that something that is unusual and different from everyday sights. Tourists are looking for an authentic experience of the places they visit. The Tourist Gaze is a summary of all the expectations that tourists have of the local people and the city itself, and the way locals behave.

the Groninger Museum (photo by Reimer Vonk

So how does this apply to Groningen? To see what tourists might expect when they go to Groningen, we can take a look at several  sites with information about Groningen, and check which places are seen as a highlight of Groningen. When looking at the site for tourism information about Groningen, one massive event draws the attention: the David Bowie exhibition in the Groninger Museum. Looking at the English Wikipedia page of Groningen, the first thing that is mentioned also happens to be the Groninger Museum. On both websites, a lot of pictures of the Martini Tower and the Groninger Museum can be spotted. Also, by mentioning the Universities, the image is given of a 'young' city.

So, are the Groninger Museum and the Martini Tower also the most touristic places in Groningen? I think they are. The exhibition of David Bowie has brought a lot of people from outside of Groningen to the city, and the Martini Tower is the most prominent structure in the city's' skyline and on pictures of Groningen. This is what people expect when they come to Groningen, this is their 'gaze', their main focus in Groningen. Also, tourists might expect to see a lot of young people in Groningen. In my experience, this is also true. So, in conclusion, the tourist gaze on Groningen consists mainly of the Groninger Museum and the Martini Tower. Do you agree?

The recognizable top of the Martini Tower. (photo by Reimer Vonk)

Sources:

Urry, J. (1991). The Tourist Gaze

Groningen Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groningen

Groningen Tourist information: http://toerisme.groningen.nl/en/home
Lonely Planet about Groningen: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-netherlands/the-north-and-east/groningen-city