Groningen Guitar Competition

Repertoire requirements

Free choice. By heart. No repetition between rounds.

• Preliminary Round · 10 min
  • Free choice program (by heart)
• Semi-Final · 15 min
  • Free choice (new repertoire)
• Final · 30 min
  • Free choice recital (new repertoire)

Official website

https://dutchguitarfoundation.com/en/festival/

Visiting? A guitarist's guide to Groningen

Photo: Thomso at Dutch Wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

As the capital of the Northern Netherlands and its largest city, Groningen offers a lively, youthful atmosphere, making it a compelling destination for a classical guitar enthusiast. Home to one of the country's oldest universities and a significant student population, the city has a vibrant energy that perfectly complements its historic downtown. The Groningen Guitar Competition, held annually in February, invites musicians from around the world to this dynamic setting, blending serious musical endeavor with the city's welcoming spirit.

Getting there

Groningen is well-connected despite its northern location. The most straightforward international arrival is often via Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), from which direct trains reach Groningen in about two and a half hours. Alternatively, Groningen Airport Eelde (GRQ) offers a limited selection of flights from various European cities and holiday destinations, including Gdansk, Copenhagen, Brussels, and Munich; from Eelde, local bus line 9 or the special shuttle bus 100 will take you to the city center in 20 to 40 minutes for about €5. Taxis are available but should be booked in advance, costing around €25-30. Once in the city, Groningen is renowned for its bicycle culture, with more bikes than citizens, making it exceptionally easy to navigate on two wheels or on foot.

Compare trains, buses & flights to Groningen on Omio →

Netherlands runs on Type F sockets, standard across most of Europe, so you will only need a travel adapter if you are coming from the UK, Ireland, or beyond Europe.

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Where to stay

Groningen's compact centre, especially around the Grote Markt and the university quarter, makes an easy base for the competition. Stay inside the old canal ring, the binnenstad, and you're within walking distance of the venues, the main sights, and the city's countless cafés and eetcafés. The large student population keeps accommodation varied, from boutique hotels to budget-friendly stays, all part of the same walkable experience.

What you'll hear

The Groningen Guitar Competition features a free-choice repertoire across its rounds, requiring all pieces to be played by heart and prohibiting repetition between stages. This format encourages participants to showcase their individual artistry and technical prowess across a broad spectrum of classical guitar literature. While cash prizes and concert opportunities await the first-place winner, the competition itself is a showcase of emerging talent in a city known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Beyond the competition, Groningen carries a music and arts calendar far bigger than its size suggests. Every January the city hosts Eurosonic Noorderslag, one of Europe’s leading showcase festivals for new and emerging bands, taking over venues right across the centre, it falls close to the guitar competition’s February dates. In late summer, Noorderzon fills the Noorderplantsoen park for eleven days of theatre, performance, and music. Together they capture the city’s appetite for live sound better than any single tradition.

The local table

Groningen's food is hearty and unpretentious, shaped by its student crowd and its northern setting. The local signature is the eierbal, a soft egg wrapped in thick ragout, breaded and deep-fried, best grabbed ‘uit de muur’ from a snack wall, the way a true Groninger eats it. On the Vismarkt and around the Grote Markt, market stalls sell Dutch herring (haring), eaten the proper way with raw onion, alongside kibbeling and other fried-fish snacks. The lanes and canalsides of the centre are lined with cafés, eetcafés, and international kitchens serving the university city's mix.

Fancy a guided taste? Food and wine tours in Groningen →

While you're there

Groningen packs plenty into the gaps between rounds. Start with the Martinitoren, the city's landmark tower on the Grote Markt, for panoramic views. The same square is home to De Drie Gezusters, the largest café and bar complex in the Netherlands, filling a row of tall historic houses, along with the striking 17th-century Goudkantoor and the old city hall. Wander the canals (grachten) that give the centre its distinct Dutch character, and don't miss the Groninger Museum, famous for its bold modern and contemporary art, design, and regional history. Given Groningen's status as a bicycle city, renting a bike for a few hours is a quintessential experience. For a day out, the surrounding province offers open landscapes, quiet villages, and the Wadden Sea coast at Lauwersoog, all easily reached by train, bus, or car.

Tours, tickets and day trips in Groningen →

More guitar events in Netherlands: Twents Gitaar Festival

Also in February: Delcamp International Guitar Competition · Miami International GuitART Festival & Competition

Listing data is compiled from official sources and can change each edition. Always confirm dates, deadlines and requirements on the organizer's official website before applying or booking travel. Spotted an error? See our terms or let us know via the About page.

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