See

Martini Tower and Church

Martinitoren

One of the most important hotspots in Groningen refers to Saint Martin of Tours, the patron saint of the Bishopric of Utrecht. Locals call the tower d' Olle Grieze which means 'the old grey one' and is related to its colour. Tickets are available in the VVV (tourist information) shop just over the road. There is a wide view over the city from the top of the tower. It was built as a cruciform church in the 13th century, and was extended in the 15th and 16th centuries. Much of the wall and roof paintwork has been preserved. Of particular note is a 16th-century depiction of the life of Jesus Christ.

Address: Grote Markt
Hours: 12:00-16:00 (11:00-17:00 in summer)
Price: €3
Website: martinikerk.nl (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Groningen, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

Close by

Drink
De Kostery
Family style. Nice terrace in summertime.
Eat
Fujiyama
Teppanyaki restaurant - though if you want showmanship with your dinner, Fujiyama is the place to go.
Eat
't Feithhuis
Close to the Martini tower and Grote Markt, this cafe-restaurant is sited in a historic building, and serves excellent locally sourced food.
Open now · closes 10:30 pm
See
Martinikerkhof
Martini cemetery
The Martinikerkhof used to be a cemetery, but since 1828 it is no longer in use. The cemetery has been transformed into a beautiful square, an oasis of peace. Prominent on the Martinikerkhof is the Martini Church. On the east side of the square stands the 'Provinciehuis', the seat of the provincial government. The front of this beautiful building was built in the end of the 20th century, while the rear of the building dates back to the Middle Ages. At that time the building was used as a Latin School. The north side of the square is marked by nice old houses and the Prinsenhof. At the square stands the Saint George and the Dragon Memorial (Sint Joris en de Draak Monument), the official provincial Second World War memorial. The memorial has been made in remembrance of the whole loss and suffering in the city of Groningen.