Groningen Students Struggle to Find Study Spaces as Cafés Impose Laptop Restrictions

In Groningen, many students rely on cafés as informal study spaces, especially when university libraries are full. But as more students settle in for long work sessions, several cafés across the city have begun restricting laptop use to preserve their atmosphere and keep tables open for paying customers.

At Cosy Café, manager Elisa says the issue isn’t students, but the shift in ambiance when the space turns into a study hall.
“When someone enters a place filled with people studying, it gives a less cozy vibe,” she says. “People feel like they have to keep quiet.”
She adds that the problem is specifically laptops: “A laptop is a cold, lonely digital device.” Reading or doing group work on paper remains welcome.

At Books and Coffee, manager Nia has noticed the same pattern. “At the start of every academic year, it starts to feel like a university library again,” she says. The café first removed electrical plugs to discourage long laptop sessions, but the measure had little effect. They now enforce a laptop ban from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, with a full ban on weekends.

Both managers also cite economic pressures. “Sometimes someone on a laptop orders one coffee and sits for five hours,” Nia says. “As a small family business, we need to keep the tables busy.”

Many students, however, feel the rules are too strict, especially given the lack of available study spaces elsewhere.
“Books and Coffee is only 30 meters from the university, and most customers are students. The ban doesn’t seem fair,” says Marieka, a literature student.
Her friend Lina agrees: “The problem isn’t the cafés; it’s the lack of study spaces at the university. Our rooms are small, and during exams the University Library is packed. We’re left with no other options.”

The University of Groningen offers several study locations, including the UB, Harmony Building, and other campus facilities, but demand has continued to outgrow capacity. With both the University of Groningen and Hanze University enrolling thousands of new students each year, finding a quiet and comfortable study spot has become increasingly difficult.

As exams approach and student numbers rise, the tension between café owners and students highlights a broader issue: Groningen’s growing need for accessible study spaces beyond the university walls.