36 entries.
wrote on 11/06/2026
at
16:00
When I came to Groningen as a transsexual immigrant, my experience of city was one of hostility. I experienced countless instances of harrassment and hate in the street. The sjoel is a refuge from this. It is one of the few spaces in the city that I feel safe in. The community surrounding the space represent something the city can be truly proud of. I am eternally in debt for all I learnt from them and how they have cared for me. I continue to be inspired and motivated by their vision of better world for people like myself.
wrote on 09/06/2026
at
11:59
Love coming here! would be super sad to see the sjoel disappear 🙁 the sjoel is one of the only places that is explicitly and totally anti-racist too. important to mention.
wrote on 31/05/2026
at
18:59
I would hate it if this place would disappear. This is an awesome place. I don't get why the local political organizations are so insistent on destroying what few third spaces we have left in the north.
wrote on 31/05/2026
at
10:11
Having the Sjoel as a space for community organizing right in the heart of the city is so important! I look back fondly on movie screenings, food, fundraisers and so many opportunities for connecting with people. Places where people can come together without the pressure of financial constraints are essential and the Sjoel gives us that and so much more.
wrote on 30/05/2026
at
05:37
This is one of those places that gave me a sense of belonging. Truly one of the most authentic and real communities, with a lot of warmth and honesty ;-;
wrote on 29/05/2026
at
20:35
I can't imagine where I'd be if I hadn't found Jeugdsjoel. The warmth I felt from the community will stay with me for a lifetime.
wrote on 29/05/2026
at
12:26
I love going to the jeugdsjoel because the people there are kind and caring. There are very few spaces in the city that I feel everyone is welcome to and you can truly be yourself, but the Jeugdsjoel has always felt like a place where so many different people can come together. It's a treasure to the city and it should stay!
wrote on 29/05/2026
at
11:38
Jeugdsjoel is special because it lets us youth build community in the middle of the city centre, while still sheltered from consumerism. I just feel like every time I go out I love meeting people on the streets of Groningen, but I lose about a fourth of my monthly budget. At jeugdsjoel, a free meal is never an issue and events are organized with great care for the neighbors. It makes me feel like a person in control of my life rather than a consumer being led by the experiences offered by the business. There really is only a few places that are comparable in Groningen. And it is not just a community focused on fun and socializing, but also very involved in education. I've been to lectures and talks, and learned things from people from other places in the world that I would never stop to think about and probably would not have had the money to pay for in a theatre. There's professors from the university, coming together with students. There's activists turning into performers. There's runaways and migrants finding a home. We need to appreciate the wildflowers growing in the cracks of our concrete.
wrote on 27/05/2026
at
23:14
Beautiful place, beautiful people. I remember when I went to VOKU there and people from the neighbourhood showed up who looked like they really needed a warm meal, we all ate together and it was really nice. People at this place are doing good work, it is a beacon of community and humanity in a world that otherwise often feels cold and hostile. To shut it down, would be sad and misguided. And it would mean people losing their home.
wrote on 27/05/2026
at
12:54
sjoel is a very important and special place for so, so many people. they put work and effort into their events, and it always feels warm and inviting. it would be devastating to lose something so beautiful.
wrote on 27/05/2026
at
08:09
Sjoel feels like more of a home to me than my actual home sometimes. It's a sanctuary like nowhere else I know. Losing it would be devastating to the city and the people who live here.
wrote on 26/05/2026
at
23:35
the jeugdsjoel is very special and i've had a great time there, everyone was kind and friendly and it's very important for the community, we need it to stay!
wrote on 26/05/2026
at
23:32
there's nowhere else like the Jeugdsjoel. I finally started to feel like I had a safe place to meet people like me and fit in somewhere that I can't find anywhere else. it's helped me come out of my shell to be a part of this community, and without it, i don't know where else to go. i'd be much happier if we got to stay.
wrote on 26/05/2026
at
21:56
Really nice place. Makes me feel welcome when I am there and it is a nice place to meet with other queer folks and share experiences
wrote on 26/05/2026
at
21:32
lovely space. everyone feels like family there and it's a home away from home for those of us who need it in the queer community. i'd be really sad to see it go 🙁
wrote on 26/05/2026
at
21:18
I've visited the Sjoel a couple of times during different events, and there really is nothing else like it in Groningen. It's an open, welcoming space for everyone, and offers community and connection for some of the people who struggle with it hardest. People who don't have a lot (or any) money to spare can't often afford to go out, to attend parties, to visit markets, to go and watch a film... and the people who can't afford to participate in social life, aren't able to make friends and connections, aren't able to build their own support networks, and end up struggling more. The Sjoel not only offers an accessible space in the heart of Groningen for people who have a little less, but also offers the only large and accessible open space for these kinds of people to host their own events, markets, fundraisers, workshops, etc. Every other option is either far from the city center, too small for many types of events, or simply isn't affordable for everyone. It really is irreplaceable, and losing it would be a terrible loss for a community that needs it most.
wrote on 26/05/2026
at
09:59
The Jeugdsjoel holds a special space in Groningen, especially in the role of refuge for queer youth. When I pass by with a city tour, its inhabitants are always welcoming and open to answer any questions. And when a friend of mine needed information on trans health care, people made time for us to share their knowledge and insights. The value of this place might be easy to overlook for outsiders, but it's a real treasure.
wrote on 26/05/2026
at
07:43
good space, kind people that try to actually build some community for people that normally fall through the cracks of the system. has been interesting to see this place evolve over the years with different people and different types of events but always the same kind of idea behind it.
wrote on 25/05/2026
at
11:46
The Jeugdsjoel as a space and a community is such an important part of the city. Most events and initiatives I have been apart of in the years I’ve lived in Groningen are unthinkable without their support.
wrote on 24/05/2026
at
13:14
When I moved to Groningen, the Jeugdsjoel was incredibly welcoming and gave me a social life again. Without it, I would've been lonely without community. The community is always there when I need something. Save the Jeugdsjoel!