Groningen

Nothing beats Groningen, and I get to call it home

Groningen is the beating heart of the Netherlands' far north: a compact, lively city of canals, cobbled squares and bicycles, watched over by the famous Martini Tower. Founded as a university town in 1614, it still feels young, with students filling its cafés, clubs and streets. On match days, the city turns green and white as FC Groningen, the Pride of the North / „Trots van het Noorden”, takes the field at the Euroborg in front of some of the most passionate supporters in the country. Yet only a short ride away, the city gives way to wide polders, reed beds and open skies. It is this mix, a city full of life with wild landscapes all around it, that makes Groningen such a good home for a nature photographer.