Saturday, March 18, 2006

 

Furnished home for rent in Groningen, the Netherlands

For rent:
Town home, fully furnished/equipped, historical setting in a quaint Dutch neighborhood adjacent to a lively city center pedestrian zone (See photos just after this article).

Location:
Groningen, the Netherlands. Ancient, architecturally preserved city known as the Amsterdam of the North. Home of the fourth largest university in the Netherlands.

Overview:
The house is set up for one to twelve month rentals intended for an extended vacation. It is also perfect for a multi-month assignment for the traveling business person, educator, professional or government administrator assigned to Groningen.

Summary on how to rent the house:
The house can be rented for a minimum of one month at a time, but preferably for a minimum of 3 months. It is listed on the website of the real estate agent we retain to manage it, Van der Meulen. This site is in Dutch, but it lists phone numbers and email addresses. The agents all speak English and will respond to emails written in English. The website is: http://www.vandermeulenmakelaars.nl/ . Once there, click on "huuraanbod" which will take you to their rental listings. If it is available for rent, it will be shown there and identified as being on Grachstraat.

Discussion of the home and its environs:
The city of Groningen, is known as the "Amsterdam of the North" and it is ranked in the top five most livable cities in the Netherlands. The city is located in the North of Holland roughly even with and West of Hamburg, Germany. The Netherlands (also known as Holland) is one of the most livable countries in the world and its people are particularly friendly to Americans.

Groningen is the capital of the province of Groningen which is the area of the country in the northeast, adjacent to the North Sea and Germany. The home is situated in the Oranjebuurt neighborhood which is adjacent to the Noorderplantsoen (North Gardens), the public gardens just on the edge of the city center. The house and the Oranjebuurt neighborhood are part of a concentric network of quaint row house neighborhoods surrounding the city center. These neighborhoods were built up during the industrial revolution to provide housing to the burgeoning artisan and working class that grew in response to the expanding industrial economy.

Since Groningen is situated very close to the North Sea much of its commerce was and is related to the maritime industries. Because of this, these homes came to be known as Schipperswoning (Skipper's House). This particular Skipper's House was built in 1900.

These neighborhoods and the quaint and varied homes found in them have been more or less continually occupied and unchanged since their construction. The city has controlled the building exteriors and the general appearance of the neighborhoods, leaving them looking very much the way they did when constructed during the late 19th/early 20th century period.
This home in particular retains it original exterior and interior appearance while offering all of the modern conveniences including washer/dryer, fully equipped kitchen, cable TV, high speed internet, up-to-date bathroom fixtures, etc.

Spending time in Groningen is fun:
Groningen is home to the fourth largest university in Holland. As a result there is a vibrant, youthful quality to the downtown scene. Groningen is home to a very dynamic and active pub, cafe and club scene.

This home is within less than a five minute walk from several restaurants, pubs, shops and a supermarket, all part of the Oranjebuurt neighborhood. It is also very close to the extensive city center pedestrian zone. One can reach the beginning of this area in less than a five minute walk. It takes less than ten more minutes to reach the very center of town. This district is filled with numerous shops, restaurants, pubs, sidewalk cafes and other amusements.

No need for an automobile in Groningen. It is a very compact, pedestrian friendly city with one of the largest and most highly rated central pedestrian zones in Europe. Virtually all amenities are within a reasonable walking distance from each other. Remember also, this is Holland where the bike is king and the automobile plays a secondary role. The entire city is designed to give priority to the pedestrian and cyclist. Biking time from the house to the center zone is less than five minutes.

It is also easy to get to Groningen via rail service from all major European air hubs. The city has a small regional airport with connections from major air-hubs including Amsterdam's Schipol airport.

As noted, the house has retained much of its original character and flair. At the same time it is fully equipped and ready for occupancy. All one has to do is arrive with their suitcase. Everything else is provided. The house can be rented for a minimum of one month at a time, but preferably for a minimum of 3 months. It is listed on the website of the real estate agent we retain to manage it, Van der Meulen. Although this site is in Dutch, the agents all speak English and will respond to emails written in English. The website is: http://www.vandermeulenmakelaars.nl/ . Once there, click on "huuraanbod" which will take you to their rental listings. If it is available for rent, it will be shown there and identified as being on Grachstraat.

Also, you can post a comment to this article or send an email to de_princes@yahoo.com and I will get you in touch with the agent. Detailed information on the city and province of Groningen can be obtained at the English language website of the Netherlands tourist bureau, the VVV: http://www.beleefgroningen.nl/

















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