Best rain gear in Groningen 2026

Groningen is one of the windiest and wettest student cities in the Netherlands: the open Ommelanden offer no shelter and north-westerly wind comes straight off the Wadden Sea. On the Zernike route, Friesestraatweg and the bridge over the Reitdiep there is almost permanent 5 to 7 Beaufort wind, and rain often falls horizontally. An ordinary poncho is pointless in Groningen — it inflates like a parachute within 100 metres. The typical Groningen student opts for a solid rain jacket from AGU, Rains or Gore Wear with at least a 10,000 mm water column, plus rain trousers. Cycling through the Korreweg quarter or from Paddepoel into the centre in a cheap jacket means sitting through an hour of lectures in wet clothes. Brands like Didriksons (Swedish) and Helly Hansen (Norwegian) are extra popular because they're designed for similar climates. For the many schoolchildren and students on the Vismarkt–Grote Markt–UB route, Basil or AGU rain ponchos with ankle straps are a popular budget choice, but be warned: on a bike with panniers and wind a poncho has limited use.