In 1997, Andre purchased the historic building – which had previously served as a nursing home, among other things – that now houses the Asgard Hotel. Andre organised trips to Groningen with Asgard Reizen and was unable to find suitable accommodation in the city for his travellers. He decided to renovate the building himself to his own specifications; the walls of the former small nuns' rooms were knocked down and the philosophy behind the hotel became the starting point for the interior design.
In 2007, the Asgard Hotel opened its doors with a unique concept: modern design elements are combined with sustainable, ecological materials, both in the architecture and in the composition of the breakfast. We source our products from local farms in the province. In 2012, a third floor was added where you can spend the night in our luxury rooms with views of the city and d'Olle Grieze (the Martini Tower).
The history of our hotel
In 1936, the current Asgard Hotel building was constructed in the 'New Objectivity' architectural style. The building originally served as a nursing home for nurses from the maternity ward of the Diakonessenhuis, better known as 'Huize Tavenier'. The sisters stayed in pairs in one of the 28 small rooms on the first and second floors of the building.
For a short period, there were mud baths on the ground floor, which were mainly visited by wealthy farmers from the Groningen countryside. Later, these rooms were used for minor outpatient procedures – the current 'Green Room' was once used as a room for 'light therapy'. The mud baths were located where you can now find the kitchen, laundry room, toilets and room 0.
In the 1970s, the hospital on Praediniussingel and the associated buildings came into the hands of insurance company AGO, the predecessor of AEGON. The nurses' home was therefore converted into offices. The building was sold in 1984 when AGO and ENNIA merged. The building was then used for several years as a women's student residence and later as a Pentecostal church.
Team Asgard
We believe it is important that our guests feel at home and look back fondly on their stay in Groningen. Cooperation, reliability and a pleasant atmosphere form the basis of our team and who we are as the Asgard hotel. We are happy to take on the challenge of getting to know our guests and their wishes.
Surroundings of the Asgard Hotel
In the vicinity of our hotel, you will find several museums within walking distance, such as the Northern Maritime Museum and the Groninger Museum. In less than 5 minutes, you can reach Folkingestraat, which was voted the most enjoyable shopping street in the Netherlands in 2014. In this street, you will find a variety of shops, such as an Italian delicatessen and various boutiques. A stone's throw from Folkingestraat, you will find Zwanestraat and Kromme Elleboog, officially the best shopping street in the Netherlands (2016), the Vismarkt and the d'Olle Grieze (the Martini Tower).
Travelling with Asgard
Since 1995, Asgard Reizen has been organising exclusive small-scale group tours for lovers of culture, history and nature. Our tours are carefully curated around themes such as art, modern architecture, history, literature, music and culture. The tours are always led by an experienced Dutch tour guide who specialises in the theme of the trip. The hotels offered are located in the city centre and, in addition to the excursion programme, there is also free time for your own initiatives. For more information about our trips, please visit the Asgard Reizen (Dutch) website.