GRONINGEN is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands with a typical Low Saxon dialect called Gronings, with local nuances. Nowadays, many inhabitants of the province do not speak the dialect, especially in the city of Groningen where many outsiders have moved. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen, in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea. Land use in Groningen is mainly agricultural, it has a large natural gas field near Slochteren. Local plans to stir economic development and create a city scene similar to New York are under way; rezoning hearings began in late 2005. Read more >>>>