Groningen is the capital city and main municipality of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands. Often referred to as the "capital of the north," it serves as the primary economic and cultural center for the northern region of the country.
As of January 2025, the city had a population of 244,807 inhabitants, making it the sixth largest city or municipality in the Netherlands. It is also the second largest city located outside of the Randstad area. The broader Groningen metropolitan area has a total population of approximately half a million people.