Capital of the province of the same name in the northern part of the Netherlands, Groningen is known as the metropolis of the North, a major industrial, cultural and educational centre. Students account for nearly a quarter of its population, giving the town a youthful and vigorous appearance. Their presence is felt in the huge number of bicycles on the streets of Groningen and in the numerous and crowded bars. The University was founded in 1614, and is the second oldest in the Netherlands after Leiden. The highlights of the city centre include the pedestrian shopping street (Herestraat) and the Grote Markt (central square) with the Town Hall and the town’s emblematic building, the 15th-Century Martini Tower, the best place to get a panoramic view of Groningen. The beautifully restored central railway station has a remarkable painted ceiling. A bridge connects the station with the Groninger Museum, considered to be one of the best in the Netherlands. This audacious structure stands in the water and consists of three pavilions, a circular one, a yellow tower and a Deconstructivist section by three different architects, and is home to various expositions of Modern and Abstract artwork.