Apart from being overwhelmed with Groningen happiness and youthfulness, I was amazed how good the…read morefood is. And this particular joint called Werkman restaurant, stood out with the quality of the its dishes and its outstanding hospitality. I had a tomato soup, Parmesan fried and a glass of the most delicious and refreshing Syrah, and it was fresh and very tasty. It's a perfect end to the day full of endless cycling and walking. So happy to discover it. Will be back for more. Cheers.

Really disappointed with this store. Was unsure about…read morebuying a piece of cloth and asked the sales-person if I could wash it (by hand). She told me that would be no problem. So I decided to buy the piece of cloth despite it being overly pricey. At home I realized that in fact the piece of cloth was only dry cleaning and even confirmed it with the label. After trying to return the item I was told that this would not be possible. After talking to the salesperson she told me that she knew about the washing instructions but she has other pieces where she is just ignores the instructions and normally it works out fine. Instead of being lied to to make a sale be honest next time! Dissatisfied owner of a piece of cloth that I can only be dry cleaned for 20 euros!

Emmaus is another thrift store that I like to stop by on my visits to pastoral Friesland. It's very…read moregood for furniture, household items and books. I don't recommend it as much for women's clothes. The staff are pretty helpful. The prices can be a bit 'hit or miss.' If I lived there, I would probably enjoy it a bit more. It's hard to fit an armoire on a plane!

Great game store, I've been coming here for almost 20 years for board games, D&D books and dice. I…read morelove this place!

I did not expect to find such a gem of a store while overseas. Hema is the Netherlands version of a…read moreTarget or Walmart in the U.S. They sell everything from clothing, to housewares, to school supplies all under one roof. I did not find any larger electronics (i.e. Flat screens, etc) only smaller appliances such as an iron. This store is tri-level and comfortably large. By comfortably I mean one will not get lost. The cleanliness of the store is what is most impressive. There was a level of organization that I have not seen in U.S. chain stores. This could be because I was there when the doors opened, but I asked some of the locals, and word is the store is well kept. At any rate, Hema will remain on my list of go-to stores will on study abroad.

I love thrift stores in general, and this one in particular. I get the impression that there isn't…read morethe same sort of fascination with groovy thrift store finds in Europe as there is in America, or at least the San Francisco Bay Area. I have this impression because I rarely see shoppers under forty at the Pikulan, and because their items are dirt cheap. It's my one regular stop in the Netherlands where I don't feel the painful effect of the weak dollar in comparison to the stronger Euro. If my observation is correct, please don't tell the young people of Surhuisterveen how great thrift store shopping is! The last thing I want is for their prices to go up, or for a crowd to be there the next time I go in. As an added bonus, their staff is friendly and always helpful. They're a tad shy about speaking English and ik spreek niet so goed Nederlands af Fries. That said, it's never stopped them from giving me top-notch service. The items are clean and very well organized. If you come at certain times, you can enjoy a very nice coffee hour with locals and employees for a small donation. And the best part? It's for charity! While it doesn't necessarily elevate shopping to a noble deed, it sure beats padding corporate profits.

This is a big crazy barn full of used items arranged into stations managed by helpful employees. I…read moremust be honest in stating that it's a bit overwhelming for an English speaker. It especially was my first time there, when I got dreadfully lost on the way there and showed up already frazzled moments before there were closing. A month ago I made it back under somewhat calmer circumstances (well, not really, I had a child with me then). An important thing to know about the experience is that each station requires payment in its area. The manager from the next area won't know what to charge you for items in the preceding area and then you'll have to go back. Confusion will ensue. Once you know how it works, I can almost guarantee you that you will find some amazing antique or cool rare item in almost every area. The pricing is a little erratic, but very fair in general. It was here that I had my most incredible shopping deal ever: a genuine antique baby pram with bedding and the original receipt for twenty five Euros! I haven't managed to get it in my luggage (or to have a baby) but it's still the best find EVER! My family in Friesland has put it to some use, luckily. The only section of Lichtpunt I pass on is the clothing. For clothing, I prefer Pikulan. Otherwise, check this place out! (Confirm the hours before you go. They're not open a lot.)