Living in Groningen: BRP Registration Flat Hunting, Neighbourhoods
Newcomer's Guide to Groningen
Groningen: University City and Cycling City in the North of the Netherlands
for newcomers
Groningen is the capital of the province of the same name and had around 244,800 inhabitants on 1 January 2026. The city has had a university since 1614, plus the Hanzehogeschool; together, around 50,000 people study here. According to a 2013 study by VCÖ, people in Groningen make about 31 per cent of their journeys by bike – which makes the city one of the most bike-friendly in Europe. The old town around the Grote Markt and the Martinitoren is densely built up, and the Groninger Museum lies between the old town and the main station.
For newcomers from Germany, bureaucracy comes first: according to the Rijksoverheid (Dutch government), anyone staying longer than four months registers with the municipality in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP), the Personal Records Database, within five days. Because the Netherlands is part of the EU, there are no customs formalities for your household goods. According to the city, flat hunting can take several months. Groningen is the headquarters of Gasunie, and other important employers are the university, the Hanzehogeschool and the UMCG university hospital. We handle the transport from Berlin as a home removal.
Moving to Groningen: Survey First, Then Plan the Fixed Price
One Point of Contact from Berlin to Groningen
Call us on 01625978461 if you are moving to Groningen. After a survey, we give you a fixed price for the roughly 565 km; your belongings are covered under the HGB. The journey is described in our long-distance moving guide.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Who Does What When Moving to Groningen
Clear tasks before moving day
We have no branch in Groningen: the lorry sets off from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and drives around 565 km via the A2, A1, A28 and A31 to the Dutch A7. Beforehand we ask about the floor, lift and access – whether in the Binnenstad, the Oude Wijken or Paddepoel. Where the lorry is allowed to stop outside your new address is clarified in advance according to the rules of the City of Groningen. We give you the fixed price after the survey; liability is under § 451e HGB (€620 per m³). You take care of registering with the Municipality of Groningen yourself – according to the Rijksoverheid, within five days. You can read more about crossing the border on the page on international moves.
Packing Service
Furniture assembly
Storage
Access sorted
Arriving in Groningen: What Comes First
The removal van is empty – now the settling in begins. Newcomers to Groningen should take care of these six points in the first few weeks; we handle transport, assembly and access, while the visits to the authorities are up to you.
BRP in five days
Check your health insurance
Choosing a quarter
Get a bike
Check the rent
Deregister in Germany
Shared Load to Groningen
If you come to study at the university or the Hanzehogeschool, you often move with only one room's worth of furniture. With a shared load, your belongings use free load space on a trip heading for Groningen. We agree collection in Berlin and delivery in advance; this trip is also covered under the HGB.
Groningen
for Newcomers
Anyone moving from Germany to Groningen has to get used to Dutch procedures: registration in the BRP is due within five days, and at the same time you deregister in Germany. Flat hunting needs lead time; the city explicitly warns of rental fraud and names points of contact such as the Steunpunt Huren. Then there is health insurance, a bank account and a bike for everyday life. Because the Netherlands is in the EU, there are no customs duties on your household goods. This guide brings together what newcomers should know.
Paperwork and deadlines
Flat and neighbourhood
Organising everyday life
Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Groningen
Districts and Neighbourhoods in Groningen
The city of Groningen (excluding Haren and Ten Boer, which were merged into the municipality in 2019) is divided into five districts with a total of 64 neighbourhoods. The Centrum includes neighbourhoods such as the Binnenstad, A-Kwartier, Hortusbuurt, Ebbingekwartier and the station area; as is usual for old centres, the old town is very densely built up. Around it lie the Oude Wijken, residential areas built mainly in the 19th century, and further out are newer neighbourhoods.
In the 1920s the Oranjewijk was built north-west of the old town, and the Stadspark was laid out in 1927. We do not give specific rents because we have no reliable, up-to-date source; according to the city, they vary widely. For your search, groningen.nl names portals such as Pararius, Kamernet, ROOM and CampusGroningen, and WoningNet Groningen for social housing. If you want to buy, according to the city you will find offers on Funda or with local estate agents. The city explicitly warns of fraud in flat ads. Our advice: do not transfer a deposit before you have seen the flat and have a contract in hand, and if in doubt get advice from the Steunpunt Huren Groningen. In disputes with the landlord, according to the city, the Huurcommissie and the Juridisch Loket can help.
Job Market, Universities and Quality of Life in Groningen
With the Rijksuniversiteit, the Hanzehogeschool and the UMCG university hospital, Groningen is strongly shaped by education and healthcare; around 50,000 students live in the city. Groningen is also the headquarters of Nederlandse Gasunie; natural gas extraction in nearby Slochteren has shaped the region since the 1960s. A party of its own, Student en Stad, has represented student concerns on the city council since 1994.
In daily life, the bike counts: according to VCÖ, around 31 per cent of journeys are made by bicycle, and in 2013 Streetfilms declared Groningen the world's cycling city. By car you reach the city via the A 7 (east–west) and the A 28 (north–south), and Groningen Eelde Airport is south of the city. The cityscape includes the Martinitoren at the Martinikerk, the university's Academiegebouw and the Groninger Museum in the Zuiderhaven, opened in 1994. The province borders the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site. The station connects Groningen with Leeuwarden, Assen and Meppel and towards Leer in Germany.
What the move costs
- House/villa: individual quote
- 4-room flat: from €1,309
- 3-room flat: from €884
- 2-room flat: from €599
- 1-room flat: from €369
We also handle long-distance moves – from €4.20/km. For an exact quote, we recommend a free survey on site.
How the Price for Groningen Is Worked Out
The moving price is calculated primarily from the volume and the distance (from €4.20/km). Further factors are the floor, whether there is a lift and any parking restriction zone. Additional services such as furniture assembly and a shared load round off the offer.
What we take on during the move
Every move is different – which is why we adapt our services individually.
Furniture transport
From the sofa to the wardrobe, safely to the destination.
Part load
Cost-effective thanks to shared loading capacity.
Home move
Your move into the new home, planned stress-free.
Move with assembly
We take over disassembly and assembly of your furniture.
Business move
A smooth move for companies of every size.
Clearance
Fast and clean clearing of items no longer needed.
From Berlin to Groningen
It is around 565 km to Groningen (OSRM), and the lorry takes a good eight hours. More in the long-distance moving guide for Groningen; the return trip is also possible.
Inschrijving in Groningen: BRP Registration Within Five Days
According to the Dutch government (Rijksoverheid), anyone moving to Groningen from abroad and staying in the Netherlands for longer than four months must register with the municipality in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP). The deadline: within five days of starting to live in the Netherlands. The City of Groningen confirms the obligation and names the options as “usually online or at the town hall”.
According to the Rijksoverheid, you must have Dutch, EU, EEA or Swiss nationality or a valid residence permit. If you stay for less than four months, for example for work or study, you can register as a non-resident. The Rijksoverheid page does not give a list of appointments or documents. Ask the Municipality of Groningen about the procedure before you arrive.
Plan your flat hunting early, because according to groningen.nl it can take several months. Most people rent first and look for a property to buy from there. The city's website names portals such as Pararius, Kamernet, ROOM and CampusGroningen. You can find housing associations via woningnetgroningen.nl.
Germany requires you to deregister within two weeks of moving out (§ 17 of the Federal Registration Act). For border formalities and the journey, read the long-distance moving guide for Groningen and the page international move.
Groningen's Neighbourhoods, Students and Tenancy Law in Daily Life
Groningen is the capital of the province of the same name and, according to groningen.nl, the sixth-largest city in the Netherlands. The city's website describes districts “from historic old-town quarters to new developments for families”. The cityscape includes the Martinitoren, medieval buildings, quiet courtyards (hofjes) and murals in the Papengang. According to the city, from the centre you can reach nature in under 15 minutes by bike. The city's website names the Stadspark as a green space.
According to groningen.nl, the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen has existed for over 400 years and has over 50,000 students. The city therefore speaks of a lively student scene. According to the city's website, the province borders the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the oldest cultural landscapes in Europe.
Important notes on renting according to groningen.nl:
- Rents vary widely. Check whether the rent is above the local norm. The Huurcommissie (rent tribunal) offers help.
- The city warns of fraud when looking for a flat and refers to the Steunpunt Huren Groningen.
- A rent allowance (huurtoeslag) is possible depending on rent, income, age and type of housing. The Belastingdienst gives details.
- In disputes with the landlord, the Juridisch Loket and the Rijksoverheid can help.
Which neighbourhoods suit students or families is discussed in the Groningen guide.
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