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Living near Groningen

Renting near Groningen when the student city is too full

Assen, Leeuwarden and Oldambt compared honestly

Groningen is the northern Netherlands' only large city, so places around it are quite far apart. Assen is a quiet provincial capital to the south, Leeuwarden a lively city to the west, and Oldambt a rural municipality to the east. Each is described by commute, housing and fit, including who should not choose it.

Compare the placesHomes in Groningen
3places compared
17minutes, quickest trip
99homes in these places

Places near Groningen at a glance

Every nearby place in this guide on one board: the quickest public transport trip into Groningen, the drive, how the advertised rent per square metre compares with Groningen and how many homes are listed right now. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up with neighbourhoods, trade-offs and who the place suits.

How far each place is from Groningen

Each ring is fifteen minutes on the quickest train or bus into Groningen. The colour shows how the rent per m² compares. Tap a dot to read about the place.

  • Cheaper than Groningen
  • About the same
  • Dearer than Groningen
  • No rent figure yet
  • By car only

Rent per m² next to Groningen

Median advertised rent per square metre over the last three months, cheapest first, with Groningen itself in black.

  1. 1Assen23 homesTrain or transit17–21 mindirectBy car27 minRent per m²66% cheaper€11/m²
  2. 2Leeuwarden66 homesTrain or transit35–46 mindirectBy car53 minRent per m²55% cheaper€14/m²
  3. 3Oldambt10 homesTrain or transit26–34 mindirectBy car35 minRent per m²Not enough data

Journey times are typical weekday daytime trips between the main stations or stops, from the published timetables; car times assume free-flowing traffic. Rent comparisons use the median advertised rent per square metre over the last three months and only appear where Luntero tracks enough homes in both places.

Every place near Groningen, in detail

Each place gets an honest write-up: why renters looking at Groningen end up there, how the housing differs, what the commute is really like, which neighbourhoods to search and who should look elsewhere. Live rent and homes figures sit beside the text, with links to listings, the city guide and market data.

Content last checked on November 2, 2026

1

Assen

Assen has direct Intercity and Sprinter trains to Groningen, so you can keep working in the city while living in a calmer provincial capital in Drenthe.

  • Easy commute
  • Quieter

Renters who study or work in Groningen but want a slower rhythm can look at Assen, the capital of Drenthe. Intercity and Sprinter trains run straight between the two stations, so the daily trip stays simple without a car. Assen has its own work in public administration, healthcare and education, and its centre is closed to through traffic, which gives everyday life a calmer feel than in the lively student city to the north.

What works

  • Direct Intercity and Sprinter trains to Groningen
  • Calmer pace in a provincial capital
  • Car-free centre and wide cycling network

Trade-offs

  • Smaller nightlife and cultural scene
  • Less of a student social life
  • Some Sprinter runs only at peak hours
Quickest trip
17 mindirect
Rent vs Groningen
€11/m²66% cheaper
Homes now
23
2

Leeuwarden

Living in Leeuwarden instead of Groningen means another northern capital with its own Frisian character, a historic centre and a student scene, one direct regional train away.

  • City feel
  • Student friendly

Leeuwarden is Friesland's counterpart to Groningen: a provincial capital with a car-light historic centre, a big shopping district, canals and a cultural profile lifted by its spell as European Capital of Culture. It has no university of its own, but Campus Fryslân, a branch of the University of Groningen, plus NHL Stenden and Van Hall keep students around. Regional trains run direct between the two cities on a largely single-track line, with no Intercity, so treat it as a move to a different city rather than a daily shuttle.

What works

  • Direct regional train to Groningen
  • Historic centre with canals and many monuments
  • Campus Fryslân and applied-sciences colleges
  • Distinct Frisian identity and culture

Trade-offs

  • Regional trains only, no Intercity
  • Smaller student scene than Groningen
  • Narrower job market than the larger city
Quickest trip
35 mindirect
Rent vs Groningen
€14/m²55% cheaper
Homes now
66
3

Oldambt

Oldambt, with Winschoten and Scheemda, swaps the student buzz of Groningen for wide fields, a big lake and village life, reached by a slower local train.

  • Quieter
  • More space
  • Green and outdoors

Oldambt lies in the north-east of the province against the German border, and Winschoten and Scheemda are tied to Groningen by stopping trains on the line towards Bad Nieuweschans. It is a longer ride than from towns on the Intercity routes, so it suits people who go into the city only on some days, or who simply want open land, the Oldambtmeer lake and a hospital and shops close to home.

What works

  • Open fields, a large lake and nature nearby
  • Quiet village and small-town surroundings
  • Local trains run to Groningen without a transfer

Trade-offs

  • Slow stopping trains, so a longer ride
  • Narrower choice of homes and local jobs
  • Fewer trains on Sundays
Quickest trip
26 mindirect
Rent vs Groningen
–
Homes now
10

Newest Rentals in Assen

The newest apartments, houses, studios and rooms for rent in Assen, collected daily from Funda, Pararius, Kamernet and 100+ other Dutch rental platforms. Every listing shows price, size, energy label and availability, and links straight to the original advert, so the moment something fits your budget you can verify the details and apply at the source.

See all rentals in Assen

Questions about living near Groningen

Short answers drawn from the comparison on this page and Luntero's live rental data.

Which place near Groningen has the quickest public transport?

Assen. The trip from Assen to Groningen takes about 17 minutes, the quickest public transport link of the places compared here. Check the card for transfers, frequency and evening service.

Where near Groningen is rent cheaper per square metre?

Of the places compared here, 2 currently have a lower median advertised rent per square metre than Groningen, based on homes listed on Luntero over the last three months. The largest gaps are in Assen and Leeuwarden. A lower rate per m² often comes with larger homes, so the monthly rent itself is not always lower.

How does Luntero choose the places near Groningen?

The 3 places on this page were selected and written by hand for renters who are looking at Groningen, and each one is backed by public sources. Rents and listings update daily from Luntero's own data; journey times come from published timetables and route planners.

More guides to living near Dutch cities

Still weighing your options? These guides compare the towns around other Dutch cities in the same way, starting with the places most closely connected to Groningen.

Groningen is also on the list for

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