Where on day one you might still catch the scent of coffee and clinkers in the city centre, later you will walk along dykes, village streets, wide fields and quiet waterways. The routes lead you through the characteristic Groningen landscape - think vast polders, old villages, canals and church towers on the horizon. The province slowly but steadily unfolds under your feet. Whether you walk 20 or 40 kilometres a day: you are on the road in a landscape that never stays the same.
What makes the Groningen 4daagse unique is the relaxed atmosphere. You walk alone or with friends, in silence or in conversation, along prominent places or through forgotten streets. There are fixed starting times, but you determine your own pace. You come into contact with fellow walkers, see familiar faces at the stamping posts and grow a little more every day towards that common goal: finishing.
Despite the distances, the Groningen 4daagse does not feel massive. Local associations provide music and encouragement along the route, local residents hang out flags or put up chairs outside to wave to walkers. In some places a brass band or a brass band awaits you, elsewhere encouragement comes from an open window or an outstretched hand with a sweet. The final day is a celebration: with a medal, a festive entry and, above all, the proud feeling of ‘we did it’.
Along the way, there are stamping posts, first aiders, rest areas and water taps - practically and hospitably organized. Everything is organized down to the last detail, but without fuss. Do not expect big crowds or loud spectacle, but a quiet organization that knows what walkers need: clear routes, good care and a nice atmosphere along the way.
Those who participate discover Groningen in a new way. Not from behind the window, but with the wind in your face, sun on your neck and the sound of your own steps. You see the details that otherwise disappear. The Groningen 4daagse is not a sprint, it is a slow adventure. And so powerful for that very reason.
Are you visiting the Groningen 4daagse and want to be assured of a parking space? Then simply reserve your parking space at Q-Park Museum Centrum. Would you rather park somewhere else in Groningen? Take a look at our complete offer of parking facilities in Groningen.
At Q-Park Museum Centrum you can park from as little as €10 per day. Book your parking space online in advance and be assured of a parking space. You can easily drive in and out based on your license plate and you do not have to pass the pay machine. At Q-Park Ossenmarkt you can park from €26 per day and at Q-Park Westerhaven you can park from €23 per day.