The municipality of Groningen has made several adjustments to its previously announced parking plans, offering some relief to residents. The changes, which were made in response to feedback from the city council, will result in fewer hours of paid parking in certain neighborhoods and an increased number of annual visitor hours for residents.
One significant change is the introduction of a new visitor permit system. Starting January 1st, residents can purchase a permit for €37.50 that grants them 150 visitor hours per year. These hours can be used for visitors such as friends and family. If the 150 hours are exhausted, additional hours can be purchased for €0.50 per hour, up to a maximum of 800 hours annually.
The current system, which allows residents to purchase a visitor permit for 16 hours per week, will be discontinued. The municipality believes that the new system will provide residents with more flexibility to accommodate varying visitation needs throughout the year.
In addition to the changes to the visitor permit system, parking rates in certain neighborhoods surrounding the city center will increase. The hourly rate will rise from €2.70 to €4.50 in these areas. Paid parking will be enforced on weekdays and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The original plan had called for paid parking until midnight on these days, but the city council opted to shorten the hours to create a more consistent schedule. On Sundays, paid parking will be in effect from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
These adjustments reflect the municipality’s commitment to balancing the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors while promoting sustainable urban development.