Appingedam: History, Culture and Waterways

Appingedam offers several ways to shape your stay: historic architecture, the town’s history centered around the Damsterdiep, and routes to explore on foot, by bike and on the water. When choosing a hotel, consider whether you want to focus your trip on historic buildings, a boat trip or a walk. The town’s history and the specific activities available can help you decide where to start.

Town history and historic buildings

Besides the city of Groningen, Appingedam is the only place in the province of Groningen with medieval town rights. The oldest sections of the Damsterdiep were created before the year 1000, giving Appingedam an open connection to the sea. The history of this waterway therefore dates back to before the town received its medieval rights.

The Nicolaïkerk, also called the Nicolaaskerk, is a Romanesque-Gothic hall church in the town center. Its oldest section was built in the early 13th century. In addition to church services, it is used for concerts, exhibitions and lectures. The synagogue is another notable historic building: built in 1801, it is the oldest synagogue in the province of Groningen. Visits are possible only for groups or as part of a guided town tour; check current arrangements in advance.

The Museum Stad Appingedam is housed in two historic buildings in the town center. The Hangende Keukens, which project over the Damsterdiep like bay windows, offer a different perspective on the town’s building history. Their creation was linked to a change in the use of the buildings: after former warehouses were converted into homes, kitchens were built over the water because space was limited. Their distinctive form thus tells the story both of the buildings’ former use and of the lack of space on land.

Explore the town on foot and on the water

The “Verhalen van Appingedam” podwalk is an audio walk that you can follow using a digital map. The Nicolaïkerk is one possible starting point. You can also use a brochure for a walking tour of Appingedam, available from the town’s information centers. This gives you a choice of a digital audio format or printed directions for exploring the town.

The “Stadswandeling Appingedam” route is suitable for people with limited mobility. However, it includes a section on compacted sand and several wooden bridges. If accessibility is important to you, check the route conditions on site.

On the water, the Damsterveer offers an approximately one-hour round trip from April to September, departing from the marina and passing through Appingedam’s waterways. Check departure times before your trip. The landing stage is by the bandstand behind the Nicolaïkerk. The marina is located between the historic town center and the Overdiep shopping area; its location makes it a useful point of reference within the town.

Walking, cycling and getting there

When planning a trip, you can compare the stated route lengths: “Ekenstein en Rusthoven” is a 7 km walking route. The “Welkom op de wierde: van kerken en kloosters tot de kust” cycling route covers 56.8 km. The main difference between these figures is the distance and mode of travel; the numbers alone do not indicate how long the routes will take.

Appingedam can be reached by bus routes 6 and 41 and has a train station with rail connections. As transport services and timetables can change, check current connections before your trip. This will help you coordinate your journey with sightseeing, a seasonal boat trip or one of the routes mentioned above.

For the main travel overview: Appingedam.