Spending your free time in TopDutch

Spring fair (Meikermis) in Groningen ©Femke van der Hauw

TopDutch's sporty culture

Here in the TopDutch region we like to treat ourselves with some fried food every now and again, but don’t get confused: we’re actually a very healthy culture. Two in three Dutch people exercise at least once a week and one in four are registered to a sports club or society.

We particularly like to socialize and exercise in team sports such as football and field hockey (which is common for both men and women to play). We also have some sports that are typical to the Netherlands such as Korfbal, which is a ball game a little like basketball or netball or Fierljeppen which is native of Friesland and looks a little like the pole vault... except we vault over a body of water!

Joining a sports club is a good way to make friends quickly in the TopDutch region.

Think of a sport and you can probably find it somewhere in the region. Generally, the members are very happy to help you integrate and will speak in English whilst you need it, and switch over to Dutch as you get more used to the group and the sport. In fact, joining a sports group is a great way of learning the language and getting to know the Dutch culture.

Weekend plans

One of our cities, Leeuwarden, was the European Capital of Culture in 2018 and for good reason. We have a number of theaters and concert halls across the TopDutch region, attracting the top national and international entertainment. The Oosterpoort in Groningen, the largest cultural center in the region, offers many shows in English or with English subtitles so no Dutch is no problem! Alongside this, the majority of cinemas show films in their native language, only with Dutch subtitles, which means that likely most blockbusters will be understandable to you.

In the TopDutch region, we’re also pretty into our festivals. There will almost certainly be a festival once a month, and quite often they’re free or partly free. Eurosonic, held in Groningen in January, is the place to find up-and-coming European musicians. The Northern Film Festival, held in Leeuwarden in November, celebrates Northern European culture with films from across a spectrum of genres. Drenthe’s cultural highlight is TT Festival Assen, in June, which brings together motorsport with music and a fairground: fun for all the family.

From clogs to comics, from prestigious art to the history of forged art; there’s hundreds of museums in the TopDutch region with something for everyone. So, it should come as no surprise that Groningen scored second place in satisfaction with cultural facilities in the 2023 study on European quality of life. The Frisian, Drenthe and Groningen tourist boards each have their own list of museums for you to browse through on a rainy day.

Exploring TopDutch nature

Wander a little out of our vibrant cities, and you’ll soon arrive in the ultimate peace and quiet of our countryside. Of the twenty national parks in the Netherlands, the TopDutch region is home to six of them, including a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Apart from cycling, we also like to explore our nature on the water. Sailing, canoeing and kayaking are very popular sports in the TopDutch region, and they're easy to get involved with because of our interconnected waterways. There are a number of clubs for students and professionals to find their sea legs, such as the Watersport Club of the Two Provinces which is one of the biggest and open to everyone.

Rumor has it that the Dutch ice-skate to work. That’s not exactly accurate, but we do love to ice-skate outdoors in the winter months. We also have two indoor skating centers in the region for when the climate is a little milder. Once you’ve tired yourself out, it’s typical to take a zopie, referring to a warm drink; whether that be hot chocolate, soup or mulled wine for the grown-ups.

Food and restaurants

As a region specializing in producing good quality vegetables and dairy products, it should come as no surprise that our menus are filled with things such as potatoes, tomatoes and cheese. Added to this is lots of fresh fish from the North Sea, which is best to try in the quaint seaside villages across the Frisian Islands.

If you’re looking for high quality, we have five Michelin star restaurants in the region, but if you’re just feeling something more simple, then try our typical ‘brown cafes’ which are similar to British pubs, decorated with dark brown wood and trinkets and serving light traditional snacks like bitterballen (fried balls of potato and meat) or mustard soup - although arguably the most important thing to try there is our regional beers.

Of course the majority of your food will be bought in a supermarket, and we have a great selection. Albert Heijn and Jumbo are our biggest, and most mainstream, but we also have more budget options such as the ALDI or Lidl, and specialist organic supermarkets such as Ekoplaza. Also, when getting to know the TopDutch region and looking for fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and more, paying a visit to the local markets may be worthwhile.

However, with our rich intercultural history, it’s also very easy to find authentic foreign food in the TopDutch region. In our cities you can find restaurant cuisine from all corners of the globe, as well as many supermarkets specializing in food from home that’s harder to find in traditional Dutch supermarkets.

Events calendar

Our cities are buzzing with life and there’s always something new to do. Here and Now provides you with an up-to-date guide of events in each of the three provinces in the region, with all the descriptions in English. Their categories range from live music to lectures, business networking to community fun, so you’ll be sure to find something for whatever mood you’re in that day.