Groningen, NL **

by burohba.nl

Groningen is the major city of the Northern Netherlands and, with a population of 186,000, the eighth largest city in the Netherlands.

Groningen has a university, a university of applied sciences, a school for fine art and design, an academy of music and many more training institutes. Because of all these institutes, half the population is under 35, allowing Groningen to be able to call itself the “youngest” city of the Netherlands. Besides being a university city, Groningen is also at the leading edge in the development of research, innovation and entrepreneurship. In other words, Groningen is a real City of Talent.

Groningen strongly believes in the riches of the arts and therefore generously invests in creative talent. Annually it hosts several festivals like the Eurosonic Noorderslag pop music festival, the Noorderlicht photography festival and the Noorderzon performing arts festival. Also its wide range of museums is bound to provide a few surprises.

Groningen is a city with varied opportunities for living, working, shopping and relaxing. It is rich in history and offers plenty for the visitor to see. Around the Grote Markt is a shopping area with a choice of stores, shops and boutiques providing everything one can possibly wish for. Three days a week there is a busy produce and goods market in the two central squares Grote Markt and Vismarkt. When tired from sight-seeing and shopping you are welcome to enjoy a cup of coffee and more in one of the many cafés, pubs and restaurants.

Source:groningen.nl

 

Luxembourg City **

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small country surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany, and its history has been inextricably linked with that of its larger neighbours. It is largely made up of rolling hills and forests.

Luxembourg has been under the control of many states and ruling houses in its long history, but it has been a separate, if not always autonomous, political unit since the 10th century. Today, Luxembourg is a hereditary Grand Duchy with a unicameral parliamentary system. 

Luxembourgish, the national language, is akin to German. German is the first foreign language for most Luxembourgers and is used in the media. French is the administrative language.  The economic structure of Luxembourg is based mainly in banking, insurance, and the steel industry. Agriculture and wine production are also important.

Many of Luxembourg's speciality dishes are of the type one would expect in a forested country. They include jugged hare and Ardennes ham. Trout and pike, fresh from the country’s rivers, also feature regularly on menus here.  Luxembourg shares the Moselle valley with Germany and the local white wines are well known and popular. Like other northern European countries, Luxembourg also produces popular brands of beer.

Source:europa.eu