I'm still in Groningen, Netherlands drinking coffee, sitting in the park, reading, etc. It's quite the life. I think I'll take a day trip to Amsterdam and the Hague for a change of scenery. But I would like to clear up this misconception about Amsterdam that everyone seems to have. Amsterdam is not the best place in Holland (let alone Europe) to have fun in! In Amsterdam, for instance, bars and coffee shops close at 1AM. In Groningen or Utrecht, on the other hand, bars will stay open 24 hrs. unless everyone leaves. Amsterdam also has a severe shortage of good bars, and if you aren't with someone that's from the city, forget about finding any. These grievances are all in addition to the fact that the only people you will meet in Amsterdam are Americans, and you will be constantly harrassed by shady folk to buy hard drugs. Do you really need any harder drugs if you're in the Netherlands?!?!? Don't get me wrong; Amsterdam is a very beautiful city with a wealth of incredible museums (the Verzets Museum is my personal favorite), but it is far different than most people think. Anyhow, here are the rankings of Groningen (I tried to be impartial):
Aesthetic appeal: 4 - By either European or Dutch standards Groningen lacks. I gave Groningen special consideration, however, as the city was bombed fairly heavily during WWII.
Toilets: 5 - Student houses aren't the cleanest places
Friendliness: 8 - It's a student town...
Affordability: 7 - No Western European nation will score over a 7 in this category, but Groningen is quite affordable. Beer is quite cheap (24 of bottles for 8 Euro), and you can eat out for under $20
Transportation: 7 - The city is small enough to walk
Food: 5 - Like the US, they don't really have a "Dutch" cuisine.
Nice Cafes: 5 - The line between cafe and bar is rather blurred here. The Dutch are absolutely crazy about their coffee and will serve it wherever. Most people frequent outdoor cafes and will drink either beer or coffee. This, in turn, leaves a shortage of cafes that have different coffee beans and "gourmet coffee". I only drink "gourmet" coffee.
Fun Stuff To Do: 10 - Probably the most fun, lively town in the Netherlands because of the 50,000+ student population and lax liquor/bar regulations.
Aesthetic appeal: 4 - By either European or Dutch standards Groningen lacks. I gave Groningen special consideration, however, as the city was bombed fairly heavily during WWII.
Toilets: 5 - Student houses aren't the cleanest places
Friendliness: 8 - It's a student town...
Affordability: 7 - No Western European nation will score over a 7 in this category, but Groningen is quite affordable. Beer is quite cheap (24 of bottles for 8 Euro), and you can eat out for under $20
Transportation: 7 - The city is small enough to walk
Food: 5 - Like the US, they don't really have a "Dutch" cuisine.
Nice Cafes: 5 - The line between cafe and bar is rather blurred here. The Dutch are absolutely crazy about their coffee and will serve it wherever. Most people frequent outdoor cafes and will drink either beer or coffee. This, in turn, leaves a shortage of cafes that have different coffee beans and "gourmet coffee". I only drink "gourmet" coffee.
Fun Stuff To Do: 10 - Probably the most fun, lively town in the Netherlands because of the 50,000+ student population and lax liquor/bar regulations.
posted by James Norman at 8:04 AM
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