It was once voted “Most Beautiful Train Station in the Netherlands (2019)”.
Of course, I need to take a closer look.
đź“ŤStation Groningen
History has it, the first station building was completed in 1865, opened on 31 May 1866 but was demolished in 1894, because the building was too small. This is the second and current station building was designed by Amsterdam architect, Izaak Gosschalk (1838-1907), completed in April 1896, and most recently restored by 2000. It combines Dutch Renaissance style and Neo-Gothic elements.
Station Groningen is commonly known as “Hoofdstation” or Main Station. The station consists of a main building and side wings. The highlight of the Groningen station is this waiting hall in the centre block! It is richly decorated with a coffered crown ceiling, colourful stencil everywhere, brickwork in red, yellow and black stones, stained glass windows, wrought iron lamppost and towering art nouveau tableaus with symbolic representations done by the Groningen artist F.H. Bach (1865-1956). Entire architectural elements ooze charms.
I have read the decorations on the ceiling are made of paper plaster or paper mache. I noticed five of these full-size gorgeous tile tableau way high up on the wall. It is hard to observe from ground level but I could tell the works of art are very detailed. With the help of Google, I understood there are three female personifications: the City Virgin with Telegraphy in the middle, a lady representing Post service on the right and Steam service on the left, while the other two are male personifications of Labor and Time. They look exquisite!
What I adore most is the original cast iron lantern from the Becht and Dyserink company, in the middle of the hall. I got that romantic feel.
In the first-ever edition of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) nationwide voting poll in 2019, Station Groningen won the title of “Most Beautiful Station in the Netherlands”. Probably because of this beautiful grand foyer exudes an atmosphere from more than a century ago.
What do you think of this station hall?
