May 13, 2024 · Culinary Journalist
Chris Garrit, together with his partner Alieke Rademaker, was one of the pioneers on the vacant land near the old sugar factory on the Suikerunie Terrein along the ring road. Together with a handful of other entrepreneurs, he put the area on the map. Intended for anyone who prefers to seek the hustle and bustle a little further outside the Diepenring, and is also looking for something just a little different. The Suikerunie Terrein is wonderfully raw and unpolished, making it all the more interesting. A true urban oasis, as they call it themselves, where they like to ‘color outside the lines.’
Garrit is a music lover and owner of EM2, a versatile event venue. He felt there was a lack of a good concert hall in Groningen. ‘There are halls in Groningen, but I don’t always find them suitable for the music being played there,’ he explains. That was therefore the most important condition during the construction of EM2: that the acoustics had to be optimal. According to Garrit, it had to become a superb hall.
From the outside, EM2 looks a bit like a barn, but inside it has a true industrial character. The wood on the wall is recycled, and everything in the building is as sustainable and circular as possible. No frills here, but certainly an atmospheric space. The hall can accommodate around a thousand visitors. In addition to visitors, more and more artists and bookers are finding their way to the venue. Big names that have performed there include La Pegatina, Drukwerk, Vive la Fete, and the Fun Lovin Criminals.
During the week, the venue is available for rent to the business market and is suitable for company parties, seminars, weddings, and other events. On weekends, there is usually live music, such as concerts, and dining is also available in the restaurant on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu is limited and primarily offers tasty snacks to accompany drinks: salads, arancini, and sharing platters. "Mostly sourced locally," says Garrit. Naturally, there are also local beers from Bax and Eggens, and cider from Doggerland Cider. And you can enjoy all those delicious treats at your leisure in one of the hammocks in the lush garden surrounding the property, where pigs and chickens also roam.
When everything came to a standstill during the pandemic, they decided to tackle the situation at EM2. ‘We built a traditional wood-fired pizza oven and taught ourselves how to make pizzas, pizzas the way we like them,’ says Garrit. ‘The flour comes from the mill in Joeswerd, so that is also local. That pizza oven has really been a top investment.’ Reservations for a pizza are recommended if you don’t want to miss out.
What makes EM2 truly special is that it is the first event venue in Europe that is fully self-sufficient. So, completely gas-free; they generate and store all their own energy. And all this without subsidies from anyone. And we in Groningen are proud of that!
EM2 is open to the general public on Saturdays from 4:00 PM and Sundays from 2:00 PM. On other days, the venue is available for corporate hire.
For more info, see em2groningen.nl.
