Groningen Eelde Airport (GRQ/EHGG): Your Essential 2025/2026 Guide to the Northern Netherlands Gateway
Groningen Eelde Airport (GRQ/EHGG) is the key aviation hub for the Northern Netherlands, serving the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland. Known for its efficiency and stress-free passenger experience, GRQ offers a powerful regional alternative to the larger, congested Dutch airports. This comprehensive guide provides essential and up-to-date information for travelers planning to fly from this modern, sustainably-focused airport.
General Airport Information
Groningen Airport Eelde (IATA: GRQ, ICAO: EHGG) is strategically located in Eelde, making it easily accessible for millions of residents in the wider catchment area of the Northern Netherlands and parts of Northwest Germany.
Key Statistics & Strategic Advantage:
- Location: Eelde, 10 km south of Groningen city center.
- Traffic: Handled approximately 185,000 passengers in 2024, with expectations for significant growth into 2025.
- Passenger Growth: The airport saw a positive trend in passenger traffic, with a 5.48% rise in Q2 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, indicating strong regional demand.
- Slot-Free Status: A major competitive differentiator, GRQ is not slot-restricted (unlike Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Eindhoven), offering significant capacity and flexibility for new airline operations and route expansions in the Dutch aviation market.
- Regional Importance: Besides commercial flights, GRQ is a key location for General Aviation (GA), business aviation, and flight training activities, including the KLM Flight Academy.
- Local Attractions: The airport provides immediate access to the cultural landmarks of Groningen (Groninger Museum, Martinikerk), the natural beauty of the Drenthe countryside, and the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea.
Airlines and Destinations
GRQ’s flight program is strongly geared towards sun and leisure destinations, with the majority of services operating during the busy summer season from April to October.
Main Carriers and Routes for 2025:
The primary air carriers facilitating flights from Eelde include Corendon, TUI Fly, and Transavia. The airport also collaborates with regional partners like SKY Express, Emerald Airlines, and Blue Islands to connect to specific markets.
| Route Type | Key Destinations (2025) | Airlines | Notes |
| Charter/Leisure | Antalya (Turkey), Gran Canaria (Spain), Crete (Greece), Palma de Mallorca (Spain) | Corendon, TUI Fly, Transavia | Focusing on popular Mediterranean holiday spots. |
| New Routes | Heraklion (Crete), Knock (Ireland West Airport) | SKY Express, Emerald Airlines | Heraklion is a new strategic route for 2025. Knock provides a unique connection to Ireland. |
| Longest Route | Antalya, Turkey (Approx. 4 hours flight time) | Corendon |
The airport is actively pursuing new year-round scheduled services to enhance regional business connectivity, targeting major European hubs such as London, Copenhagen, and Munich.
Airport Facilities and Services
Groningen Eelde operates from a single, compact, and efficient terminal, known for its short waiting times and smooth passenger processing. The terminal is typically only open on days with scheduled flight operations.
- Connectivity: Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal under the network name “GRQ_Free_WiFi”.
- Retail & Food: The airport features a small duty-free shop for non-Schengen passengers and the Eelde Cafe, which offers drinks, snacks, and light meals.
- Business Services: Small meeting facilities can be arranged upon request, catering to the business aviation clientele.
- Currency & Payment: All services and retail outlets accept payments exclusively in Euros (€). Major credit and debit cards are widely accepted.
- Lost Property: For inquiries regarding lost or found items within the terminal, please contact the airport services desk at +31 50 308 0850.
- Accessibility: The terminal provides dedicated disabled access, including lifts and specialized assistance, which should be requested through your airline in advance.
Ground Transportation
Accessing GRQ is straightforward, with excellent road connections and public transport options linking the airport to the cities of Groningen and Assen.
- Bus Services:
- Line 100 Shuttle Bus: Provides a direct and rapid connection to Groningen Central Station in approximately 25 minutes. The fare is economical (around 2.50 EUR).
- Line 9: Connects the airport area with the city of Assen.
- Taxi: A taxi ride to Groningen city center is fast (about 15 minutes) and costs an estimated 25-30 EUR. Services can be pre-booked via operators like Taxi Groningen (+31 50 549 7979).
- Car Rental: Reputable car hire providers, including Europcar and Sixt, maintain desks at the airport terminal for easy pick-up and drop-off.
- Parking: The airport offers close-proximity parking facilities (P1/P2). Parking is user-friendly, with the first 30 minutes free of charge, and discounted rates are available for passengers who pre-book their parking spot online.
Airport Hotels and Accommodation
For passengers requiring an overnight stay, several comfortable hotels are conveniently located within a short drive of Groningen Eelde Airport. Highly-rated nearby options include the traditional Hotel Wesseling and the modern Mercure Hotel Groningen, offering easy access for early departures or late arrivals.
Future Developments and Sustainability Focus
Groningen Eelde is not only focused on passenger growth but is also determined to be a leader in sustainable regional aviation.
- Hydrogen Valley Airport (HVA): GRQ is spearheading the development of Europe’s first ‘Hydrogen Valley Airport’. This ambitious project utilizes the airport’s existing power infrastructure—including Europe’s largest airside solar field (22MW)—to produce and employ green hydrogen for ground handling equipment, energy supply, and eventually, hydrogen-powered aircraft.
- Operational Upgrades:
- A state-of-the-art security system is scheduled for installation in 2026.
- The airport’s operational opening hours are planned to be significantly extended to 06:00 – 00:00 starting from the Summer 2026 (S26) season, greatly improving scheduling flexibility for airlines and travel convenience for passengers.
- Target Market: The continuous expansion efforts are focused on attracting scheduled services that connect the Northern Netherlands’ business and educational sectors with crucial European capitals.
Contact Information and Location
| Detail | Information |
| Address | Machlaan 14a, 9765 ZH Eelde, NEDERLAND |
| Phone | +31 50 308 0850 |
| Official Website | www.groningenairport.nl |
| Coordinates | 53° 7′ 13” N, 6° 34′ 32” E |