Groningen's Weather Whiplash and Why My Shoes Are Still Wet

so i just spent three days in groningen, and let me tell you: if you're coming here, pack waterproof shoes and a sense of humor. i checked the weather before i left and it was like 2.7°c with 88% humidity, which sounded mild until i stepped outside and got slapped by a sideways drizzle that felt like tiny ice cubes. i just checked and it's...still there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.

i'm a freelance photographer, so i was chasing golden-hour light and ended up chasing my own hat instead. groningen's canals are ridiculously photogenic, but also a slip-and-fall hazard if you're not watching your step. someone told me that the locals bike like they're late for a fire, and honestly? not wrong. i saw a guy in a suit pedaling past me with a laptop under one arm and a baguette under the other. i tried to snap a pic but my lens fogged up from the humidity.

"if you want real dutch gezelligheid, skip the tourist traps and hit up cafe de kroon. the beer's cheap and the stories are free."

i heard that from a bartender who looked like he'd been pulling pints since the '80s. he also warned me that the fries at vlaams friteshuis de jong are worth the line, and he wasn't lying. i waited 20 minutes, got drenched, but holy smokes those fries were crispy perfection.

if you get bored, amsterdam and leeuwarden are just a short drive away, but honestly groningen's got enough going on to keep you busy. i spent an afternoon in the noordelijk scheepvaartmuseum because someone said the model ships were "peak dutch," and yeah, they were. also, free hot chocolate in the cafe if you mention the exhibit on herring trade. random but true.

random pro-tip: download the fietsersbond app if you're brave enough to bike here. i did not. my shoes are still wet from walking everywhere. also, if you're into street art, the walls near the harmoniegebouw are basically an open-air gallery. i overheard a street artist say the city council pretends not to notice, which is how you know it's good.

for more soggy adventures, check out Lonely Planet's Groningen guide or TripAdvisor's top things to do. and if you're wondering whether to bring an umbrella, the answer is yes. and also a backup umbrella.