Popwalk Groningen / ESNS: Take a stroll through 40 years of pop history

07.01.26

On Wednesday 14 January 2026, NTR will launch Popwalk Groningen / ESNS: a GPS-guided audio walk through the city centre of Groningen. As you walk, stories come to life in the places where they took place. The route takes you past more than thirty locations and covers forty years of Eurosonic Noorderslag music history. The launch is part of the free programme surrounding the festival's 40th anniversary.

Photo: Niels Knelis

Popwalk Groningen / ESNS tells the story of ESNS and Groningen as a pop city. The walk goes back to the beginning, when the festival started as a musical showdown between the Netherlands and Belgium, and follows its growth into Noorderslag and later Eurosonic. Along the way, the route takes you past venues where artists made their breakthrough, pubs where musicians and programmers met, and streets where unexpected performances took place. From legendary concerts to infamous beer showers and from world stars in small venues to local heroes on the verge of a breakthrough.

The podwalk is available in two languages. The Dutch version is narrated by NPO 3FM DJ Eva Cleven. The English version features the voice of Simone Angel, one of MTV's first presenters.

NPO Start Podwalks

After ESNS, Popwalk Groningen / ESNS will remain available to everyone free of charge. The 5 km route can be walked individually or with others, at any time of the year. All you need is a mobile phone, earphones or headphones and a pair of comfortable shoes.

Popwalk Groningen / ESNS is an initiative of NTR in collaboration with ESNS and NPO 3FM and will be available for free from Wednesday 14 January 2026 via the app: NPO Start Podwalks.