Father's Day in Groningen 2025, gifts and inspiration

Father's Day in Groningen 2025, what to do?

Looking to make Father's Day 2025 in Groningen extra special? Whether your dad is a foodie, (vintage) car lover, outdoor adventurer, or simply someone who enjoys a good beer or book, there's something in this vibrant city of Groningen for every kind of father. In this article, you'll find plenty of inspiration for Father's Day — ranging from unique gift ideas, local events, cozy cafes, exciting experiences, and heartfelt ways to spend quality time together. Dive into our ultimate Father's Day guide and discover the best Groningen has to offer on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

When is Father's Day?

Father's Day is celebrated every year on the third Sunday in June. This year, it falls on Sunday, June 15, 2025. 

How did Father's Day originate?

In certain parts of Europe, especially Catholic regions, St. Joseph's Day was commemorated on March 19. This is the 'earthly' father of Jesus. The first true Father's Day is believed to have been celebrated in America on June 19, 1910. In the Netherlands, it was first celebrated in 1937, long after Mother's Day had become well established. Some fun facts about Father's Day include that it was the retailers who really put Father's Day on the map, due to their commercial interest. It was the cigar sellers who ensured that a box of cigars was given on the second Sunday in October, the original date of Father's Day here in the Netherlands. Later, this was moved to the American date in June because October was deemed too close to St. Nicholas and Christmas. 

Father's Day inspiration in Groningen

There are all kinds of fathers, so we provided some gift inspiration for them all! My own father used to work in construction from dawn till dusk. He loved tinkering in his garage or working in the garden. My brother and I often gave him practical gifts or a bottle of berry gin from Hooghoudt (Hooghoudt has been sold, by the way, to a French company!). Nowadays, I often play a board game like Rummikub with him in the nursing home. The time we spend together is the best gift.

Dad's that love cars! Tonny's Classic Drive in Groningen, rent a classic car for a day in Groningen

Tonny's Classic Drive has been launched in May 2025  and are renting out a lovely collection of vintage cars in Groningen. They have a varied collection of vintage cars in Groningen that are 

one of a kind! They have a VW Beetle Cabrio, Citroën DS, Fiat 500, Citroen 2CV6, DAF55 and many more! All these are held as icons in car history and are available by contacting Tonny's! You can contact them at reserveren@tonnysclassicdrive.com or call +31502112459.

Shopping for your dad for Father's Day in Groningen

There are three stores that we would like to send you to for Father's Day! If you would like to buy a unique handcrafted present and at the same time support a good cause, then order at Van Hulley Shop. It is located in Groningen and they have nice presents but also empower women and sustainability! A genuinely nice shop is the Groningen Store, they have a webshop but you can also visit them at Forum Groningen (ground floor).

The active father who loves tech gadgets

Do you have a father who loves mountain biking or running, but also enjoys modern gadgets? Then you should consider wireless earbuds or a headset suitable for an active lifestyle. We are big fans of Shokz. This headset provides great sound for music and can be connected for phone calls. It fits comfortably and you can still hear your surroundings without compromising on sound quality, which is safer in traffic!

Events on, or around, Father's Day in Groningen

It would be lovely to prepare a handmade gift for your father or go with him to a nice event. Our list of suggestions for events for Father's Day in Groningen include:

• Bedruk een unieke mok voor Vaderdag (8+) | Stay In Groningen
• Dad's Night Out - Steak & Stout | Stay In Groningen
• Book presentation Henk Helmantel | Stay In Groningen
• Kardingerun 2025 | Stay In Groningen (go for the family run!)

Bring happiness and deliver a Father's Day breakfast

For the dad who loves good food, you can make a delicious Father's Day breakfast. If you're not very handy with baking but still want to be original, make a fruit tart. Make a tart shell from pastry dough, fill it with custard or pastry cream, and top it with delicious red fruits. Perhaps, serve it with a croissant and a nice cup of tea or coffee. In Groningen, there are also great places to buy treats, like Broodje van Eigen Deeg, PAAIS, or Pigalle.

Clean your dad's bike, Dad's that love their bikes!

Another way to make your dad happy is to help him with a job around the house. Think about cleaning his racing bike or car. If you make his favourite things shine, he'll be grateful for a long time! If you want to get something nice for his bike, you will find plenty of inspiration at Spaak Koffie en Koers on Oude Boteringestraat in Groningen. You can also take him there, as they have delicious homemade cakes. If you wish to do a mountainbike track you can start and end at Paviljoen Appelbergen for they have a track in the forest there!

The handy dad who loves cooking

This dad might enjoy a kitchen gadget or good knives from the well-known Swiss brand Victorinox. In Groningen, you can buy them at a good price at Wielinga on Verlengde Hereweg 7. You can find more Father's Day inspiration here if your dad is also a handy man! Another great kitchen store with an assortment of Victorinox is Reitsma in Groningen. This lovely store on Damsterdiep has been a specialist in pans, tableware, cutlery, and other household products since 1899. Another real tool store, from personal advise, is De Koning or for parts you should go to Onderdelenhuis.

The BBQ dad 

You know the type, the dads who never set foot in the kitchen but want to BBQ every day as soon as the weather gets warm.  For the dad who loves BBQing, there's a great place to visit in Groningen. At the Barbecueshop Groningen, you can find everything BBQ-related. They have the Kamado and Green Egg Barbecue, charcoal BBQs, gas BBQs, and all sorts of accessories. If you're tired of the usual BBQ, buy a pizza stone oven that you can place on your BBQ and turn it into a pizza oven. 

The dad who loves to read

For the dad who enjoys a good book, visit our favourite bookstores in the city of Groningen. We particularly like Riemer Bookstore. It's a lovely shop where you can also enjoy a relaxing moment with a delicious coffee from the Coffee Station there. In addition to books, they also sell fun unique socks, games, and small trinkets that can brighten up your dad's Father's Day.
It might even be fun to take him to an event at the bookstore. They regularly host interesting activities, such as this interesting book presentation about Henk Helmantel.
 

The dad who loves a beer

There are many special places in the city to go for a drink, such as Beer Pub de Koffer, Belgian Café de Pintelier, and Tasting Room MOUT. At Tasting Room MOUT, you can buy a beer box here, or get a beer subscription. It could also be fun to visit a brewery, such as Martinus, BAXBIER Tasting Room (it has a craft beer festival on 7 and 8th of June 2025!), and De Prael Groningen, which offer great packages. It is just amazing to combine beers with burgers! We wrote a blog about the best burgers in Groningen for some inspiration and a burger bucket list.

The active dad in Groningen

The active and sporty dad, you can take him to play padel at Padel in Groningen, go to the Bowling Center or to a climbing hall. We wrote a lovely article about the best and challenging climbing halls in - and outdoors in Groningen.

The dad who loves a game and knows everything about football

If you want to combine the two, you could buy a fun football quiz. For 10 euros, you can get one from Quest.  But it might be even more fun to go to a pub quiz with your dad, several are organized in the city. A well-known location is De Toeter. You can enjoy a special beer and they have good whisky. Alternatively, if quizzes aren't your thing, you can watch football games live on the big screen at Pacific, De Moesker, Bar Players, 't Golden Fust and The Happy Traveler Rooftop Bar! 

The dad that loves music

If you want to give a musical gift for Father's Day, we recommend visiting PLATO in Groningen. You can buy great CDs, DVDs, and vinyl records. Additionally, you could also visit the Simplon POP Quiz at Simplon on Saturday, June 21.

The dad that loves wine in Groningen

If your dad loves wine, take him to Barrel Wine Bar. You can enjoy delicious snacks and drinks, or buy a wine tasting for home. There is also a winefestival coming up in september at A Kerk in Groningen. If you would like to know more about Festivals in Groningen that are coming up, check our latest blog about the festivals in Groningen for 2025.

The dad that loves snacks

Does your dad love to have a drink but especially enjoys snacks? Want to find something quickly? Go for a pre-made snack bag. Various cheese shops, for instance, put together a delicious snack bag or gift basket. It's on our list to explore these (somebody has to do it ;-)).

Our tips in the city of Groningen for snacks and tasty giftbags

We made a selection of nice shops that have wine, beers and cheeses. Enjoy a delicious father's day in Groningen.

• De Kaaskop at the Zwanestraat 
• De Groninger Kaasboetiek at the Astraat, and also get some candy at Droppie 
• De Zuivelhoeve at Vismarkt 

Fresh fish at the Vismarkt for Father's Day

Want to keep it simple? You can also get some delicious fish for your dad at Vismarkt! Poseidon Fish Shop has a beautiful new stand. They were the best in the 2023 Groningen Herring Test.

The dad who loves nature and camping

If your dad enjoys being outdoors, whether for a nice walk or setting up his tent for wild camping, visit Bever Outdoor Store. Located on Sint Jansstraat for many years, they have offered great outdoor gadgets and inspiration. We highly recommend it!  All in all, you can really spoil your dad on Father's Day in the city of Groningen! Whether you go to a wine tasting or buy a nice book, there are so many different options in this lovely city. We hope you got some Father's Day inspiration!

The bucket list for the perfect Father's Day in Groningen is endless!

Whatever you choose to do on Father's Day in Groningen — it ultimately comes down to the attention. A card, a walk, a good conversation, or laughing together over old memories often makes it special. Hopefully, these tips for Father's Day 2025 in Groningen have been helpful.

Want more inspiration for your weekend in Groningen? Check out our other categories about food and drinks, shopping, hotels or events in Groningen.