DISCLAIMER:
The Introduction Week will take place from Friday, January 31st, to Wednesday, February 5th 2025. Throughout this week, you will be able to discover everything that Groningen and its student life have to offer, while also getting to know many other students! In short, it will be an unforgettable and valuable beginning to your stay in Groningen.
During the Introduction Week, you join a group of 14 other students from different countries. Your group will be guided by two Introduction Guides: these are students who have already lived in Groningen for a while. They will lead your group during the entire Introduction Week programme, help you get to know the city, and answer any questions you might have.
You can find the full programme day by day on this website down below. Disclaimer: the programme on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday takes place only in the evening, so you will not miss any classes in your first week of university.
↑Watch the aftermovie of a past Introweek!↑
The ESN Introduction Week is open to all students living or studying in Groningen. We welcome Master, Bachelor and exchange students from all universities and colleges in the city and region, such as Hanze, University of Groningen, UCG, NHL Stenden, and more.
In order to participate in the ESN Intro Week, you must come to one of the Sign Up Days to pick up all necessary items for the Intro Week. (wristband, goodie bag, ESNcard, and optional: Student Mobility Card (public transit card)).
In case you miss the Sign Up Days, you must come to one of our information points during the week and pick up all necessary items for the Intro Week. (wristband, goodie bag, ESNcard, and optional: Student Mobility Card (public transit card)).
Do you have any questions about the ESN Introduction Week or about ESN Groningen in general? You can always send us an email at introductionweek@esn-groningen.nl.
We cannot organise the Introduction Week all by ourselves. We need your help to make it happen! Do you have some spare time from Friday, January 31st, to Wednesday, February 5th, and want to help welcome new students to the city? Consider becoming an Introduction Guide or Crew!
Become the next ESN Executive Board and create memorable experiences for 6,000+ international and Dutch students! Organise two of Groningen’s biggest introduction weeks, 150+ events throughout the year, network with the biggest student associations in the city, and leave your mark on the student community! Applications for the 2025-2026 Board open in February 2025.
Bought a ticket for the ESN Introduction Week?
Login to your ESN Introduction Week account via the following button. Through this platform you can participate in all the events of the ESN Introduction Week.
The Introduction Week will start with the Kick Off in the centre of Groningen. Here you will meet your Introduction Guides and your group for the first time. The Meet & Eat right after at your Introduction Guide's home or a restaurant is the perfect way to get to know all of them! This is a great opportunity to get to know your group and guides because soon after you will attend the Opening Party at PALACE! There, the President of ESN Groningen will give an opening speech, and you can party with your Introduction Group into the morning!
The Saturday is devoted to culture! After recovering form the opening party you can attend over a dozen different workshops at our Culture Day at the Harmonie Building and Usva in the centre of Groningen. In addition, you can also attend a improv comedy show. And check out the Information Market for cultural and social student associations! In the evening, it's time to explore the Dutch student party culture by going for a Pub Crawl! During the Pub Crawl you can try out the many different pubs, clubs & bars in Groningen together with your Introduction Group!
Striking a balance in your student life is more important than you might think. Join us at the Student Sports Centre ACLO where you can try a wide variety of sports with over 20 student associations present! As the largest student sports facility in Europe, ACLO offers something for everyone. You can also sign up or learn about the different student associations at the Sports Information Market!
Spreek jij al een beetje Nederlands? On Monday, you'll have the opportunity to learn a few extra words and sentences in Dutch that will help you get around. Once you're done with your Dutch class, we will have a fun evening with live music at the Band Night. Two different bands & DJs will be playing throughout the night to satisfy various tastes!
Now that your classes have started and you're officially a student, it's time to relax a bit. On Tuesday, a must-watch surprise movie will be screened exclusively for you at Groningen's biggest cinema. This is a great opportunity to recharge for the final event of the Introduction Week the next day - the Final Dutch Party.
On the last day of the Introduction Week, we're going to end it with a blast: the Final Dutch Party! Party one last time with your Introduction Group and celebrate the start of your time here in Groningen. Make sure you're dressed in as much orange as possible! Having the Dutch flag on you is an undeniable advantage.