Groningen’s Timeless Beauty: 1918 in Lush Color!

This captivating colorized footage unveils the historic city of Groningen, Groningen Province, Netherlands, in 1918—over a century ago—offering a vibrant glimpse into its post-World War I charm as a silent documentary. Filmed in vivid hues, the film captures Groningen’s medieval streets, the iconic Martinitoren (Martin’s Tower) with its 97-meter spire, the bustling Grote Markt, and the serene canals of the Oudegracht, reflecting its status as a cultural and economic hub with a population of about 85,000 in 1918. The footage showcases horse-drawn carts, locals in traditional attire, the University of Groningen’s historic buildings, and the city’s picturesque landscapes, set against the backdrop of extensive new construction that has since made many locations barely recognizable today. A dazzling window into Groningen’s golden age before the interwar transformations, this restored archive grips history buffs, Dutch heritage enthusiasts, and urban explorers, offering a vivid glimpse of the city frozen in time.