famous road
Afsluitdijk
A 32km causeway sealing off the Zuiderzee, this dead-straight engineering marvel is one of Europe's great driving roads.
33 km · about 40 min drive
EuropeNetherlandsFriesland
Grou
Friesland, Netherlands · Europe
About Grou
Grou sits on the route: 5 minutes from Jirnsum, 33km from Afsluitdijk.
Grou is in Friesland, Netherlands, with about 5,700 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Jirnsum, about 4 km away.
Grou (Dutch: Grouw) is a town in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and had around 5655 citizens in January 2017. Since 2014 Grou is part of the municipality of Leeuwarden.
The town is located on the Pikmeer lake and the Prinses Margriet Canal.
Heineken operated a distribution centre for Friesland in Grou forRead more
25 years until 2004.
It used to be the capital of the municipality of Idaarderadeel before the reorganization of municipalities in 1984, and capital of the municipalities of Boarnsterhim and Leeuwardeniadeel until 2014.
While the rest of the Netherlands celebrates Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) on December 5, Grou instead celebrates a unique local variation of this children's holiday known as Sint-Piter on February 21. In local lore Sint Piter is a distinct character separate from Saint Nicholas, and was historically known as the patron saint for local fishermen.
A nickname for the town is Tsiisferdûnsers, meaning cheese dancers, from a story where a fiddler was paid with cheese at a village dance.
Where to Stay in Grou
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Grou?
Within an hour or so of Grou: Afsluitdijk (33 km), Giethoorn (43 km), TT Circuit Assen (48 km), Schokland (51 km).
Are there any good drives near Grou?
The nearest famous roads are Afsluitdijk and Houtribdijk.
Where is Grou?
Grou is in Friesland, Netherlands, about 4 km from Jirnsum.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 5,655
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Netherlands
- Region
- Friesland
- Timezone
- Europe/Amsterdam
- Coordinates
- 53.0946, 5.8374
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Netherlands
Watch for cyclists. They generally have priority.
Full driving guide for NetherlandsTags
Worth the detour from Grou
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Giethoorn
Car-free village known as the 'Dutch Venice' where thatched-roof farmhouses are connected by canals and wooden bridges.
43 km · about 50 min drive
racetrack
TT Circuit Assen
The Cathedral of Speed -- the only circuit to have hosted a MotoGP round every year since the championship began in 1949.
48 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Schokland
Former Zuiderzee island now stranded in the Noordoostpolder, the Netherlands' first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
51 km · about 60 min drive
famous road
Houtribdijk
A 26 km dike road (N302) running straight across the water between Enkhuizen and Lelystad, splitting the IJsselmeer from the Markermeer with sea views on both sides.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Grou
- 33 kmAfsluitdijkA 32km causeway sealing off the Zuiderzee, this dead-straight engineering marvel is one of Europe's great driving roads.
- 59 kmHoutribdijkA 26 km dike road (N302) running straight across the water between Enkhuizen and Lelystad, splitting the IJsselmeer from the Markermeer with sea views on both sides.
Driving in Netherlands
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€2.04/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
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