Students make Groningen one of the youngest cities in the Netherlands
11 July marks World Population Day 2026, under the theme "Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people - today and for the future." Groningen, the main urban centre of the northern Netherlands, is one of the country’s youngest cities by average age, with students accounting for around 25% of its residents. This young population shapes local urban planning and mobility.
This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 28 June 2026, shows Groningen at the centre of a geometric patchwork of agricultural fields. Bright green fields surround the dense grey built-up area, while canals, roads, and rail corridors form dark linear networks across the scene. Water bodies and wetland areas appear in near-black tones, particularly south of the city.
Copernicus data support the monitoring of urban expansion, vegetation condition, and water systems, helping authorities assess how urban areas interact with their surrounding rural environments.
![Download [WEBP, 1.14 MB]](https://eu-space.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2026-07/20260711_Groningen%20World%20Population%20Day.webp){kind=link}