Groningen marks the Relief on Thursday, August 28, with a city-wide program that spans eight days. Expect dragon boat races on the canal, a riverfront concert by the North Netherlands Orchestra, and a big fireworks finale, plus fairs, talks, theatre, and street festivals leading up to the day itself.
Before 28 August
Wed 20 Aug – Thu 28 Aug – Summer fair on the Grote Markt, daily 10:00–24:00.
Sun 24 Aug, 17:00 – Ecumenical memorial service for the 1672 Relief, Martinikerk (“Peace is the Way”).
Wed 27 Aug – Bommen Berend youth theatre at Museum aan de A (try-out 15:30, premiere 19:30) and a public lecture by regional & cultural historian Jochem Abbes at the Doopsgezinde Kerk (19:30–20:30, doors 19:00).
Relief Day — Thursday, 28 August (highlights)
07:45–17:00 – Historical re-enactors around the inner city; 9:00–9:15 bell-ringing at the Martini Tower; 9:30–10:00 wreath-laying at Rabenhaupt’s bust on the Waagplein.
11:30–12:30 – Relief Address by Prof. James Kennedy (Academy Building, UG).
11:00–21:00 – Dragon Boat Races between Kleine der Aa and Pottebakkersrijge; sign-up/info via degroeningerdrakenbootraces.nl.
12:00–18:00 – De Ontzettende Markt at Hoge der A: city-wide makers’ market with music, dance, theatre, workshops, and stalls (plus the dragon boat spectacle on the water).
12:00–20:00 – Bommen Berend Terrace near the A-kerk/Munnekeholm with food, drinks, and live acts.
All day/into evening – Street bands, kids festival (Reitemakersrijge), shanty choir at Westerhaven, parade of barrel organs, salsa on Nieuwe Markt, and roaming dweilorkesten downtown.
21:20–22:20 (approx.) – North Netherlands Orchestra performs Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks from a floating stage in the Zuiderhaven.
22:30–23:00 – Grand fireworks over the Zuiderhaven to close the day.
Practical notes
Some activities are free; check individual listings for any registration. Timings and items can change, see volksvermakengroningen.nl for the latest day-by-day timetable.
