We have planned four attractive technical excursions for you: two on Wednesday afternoon going outside the city of Groningen and two in the city of Groningen, on Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon. The Technical Excursions are also open for accompanying persons.

Technical Excursion 3 - Eemshaven

One will go the Eemshaven industrial and port area, north of Groningen. This 'new' seaport, decided upon in 1968, seemed to be a misinvestment until around 2000. At that time the port was able to attract more customers. More recently the port area had an enormous boost, partially because of investments in offshore energy production, but also because two modern, however conventional, electric power plants were realised (investment 2 bln euros). The availability of cheap and reliable energy has attracted important new activities, of which two data hotels of Google are real eye-catchers. 

Wednesday, August 30^st 2017
Start: 13:30 - End: 18:00
Meeting place: Harmonieplein (in front of the Harmoniebuilding)
Cost per person: € 30,-
Maximum participants: 40


     
                                              

Technical Excursion 2 - The Blue City Project – 21^st century regional economic development

This excursion will explore the "Blauwe Stad" (Blue City) project, located about 35 kilometres east of the City of Groningen. In a once prosperous agricultural and manufacturing region that gradually experienced mechanisation in farming and plant closures in manufacturing, and consequently higher and higher unemployment levels, a multi-dimensional plan to give a boost to the region was formulated in the late 1990s. The project serves many goals: water storage, nature development, investments in recreational facilities and, last but not least, water oriented residential development by means of the construction of 1,500 luxury homes for higher income groups. As part of the project, a large lake was created. In 2017, only about 200 homes have been built; because of this, the project is seen by many as a failure. The excursion will explore the Blue City (which in size is a large as the inner city of Amsterdam), and discuss the design and development of the project. A few stops serve to develop an understanding of the problems and potentials of the project. The excursion has a maximum of 50 participants. The excursion guide is Paul van Steen, senior lecturer and coordinator external educational cooperation of the Faculty of Spatial Sciences.

Wednesday, August 30^st 2017
Start: 13:30 - End: 17:00
Meeting place: Harmonieplein (in front of the Harmoniebuilding)
Cost per person: € 30,-
Maximum participants: 40

      

Technical Excursion 4 - City of Groningen bike tour

Groningen is the cycling city of the Netherlands, and maybe even in the world. 60% of all movements within the city are made by bike. Since the 1970’s the bicycle has a central place in the municipal spatial planning department. This 50 year timespan of cycling policy integrated in spatial planning has created an extensive bicycle network. The municipality continuously works on expanding the network. During a 2,5 hour bicycle tour, hosted by the Municipality of Groningen, local urban planners will explain this rich history though some lively examples. We will experience cycling over paths that carry 15.000 cyclists per day and see where all these bicycles find a parking place.

The Traffic-Circulation-Plan that was introduced in the city centre in the 70’s formed an important foundation for the current bicycle network. Since its introduction, the car was no longer the fastest form of transport. To get from A to B is almost always faster by bike than by car. Groningen always puts the bicycle first. Inhabitants of Groningen tend to take their bicycle everywhere they go. This asks for innovative bicycle parking solutions. This Friday afternoon-tour is a perfect moment to see the challenges which Groningen faces when trying to facilitate all the bicycle parking. To give an idea: the new Train Station will have space for total 15.000 bicycles when its finished in 2020. Guardian: How Groningen invented a cycling template for cities all over the world

Friday, September 1^st 2017
Start: 13:30 - End: 16:00
Meeting place: Harmonieplein (in front of the Harmoniebuilding)
Cost per person: € 10,- (bike included)
Maximum participants: 50

Technical Excursion 1 - A walk through the city of Groningen

This tour will take you through the past, present and the future of the so-called “City of Saint Martin”. Your professional guide will meet you at the base of the Martini Tower (Dutch: Martinitoren) at …. am/pm for a city walk. You will enjoy the stories of the Tower of Saint Martin, the Big Market and the Town Hall. Your guide will show you the beautifully restored “Goudkantoor” (Office of Gold), the historical Grain Exchange at the Fish Market, the “former city harbours”, where the sailing fleet used to have its moorings. Of course you will get a chance to visit the famous buildings of the University of Groningen, built in prominent neo-renaissance style.

During the Middle Ages, Groningen was an important city for pilgrims who worshipped the relics of John the Baptist. They found shelter in the “Pepper Guest House” (Dutch: Pepergasthuis), formed by a network of buildings with 2 courtyards. The Guest House is still open to visitors and you will visit the old church with small homes, two courtyards and the former asylum for the insane.

     

Wednesday, August 30^st 2017
Start: 9:30 - End: 12:00
Meeting place: Harmonieplein (in front of the Harmoniebuilding)
Cost per person: € 10,-
Maximum participants: 50