Brander and Stoker

Brander and Stoker are two apartment buildings, 80 meters tall, standing next to the Noordlease Stadium, home of FC Groningen. The names of the two buildings relate to the Hunzecentrale power plant that used to be on this location from 1964 to 1998. Its five chimneys, each 120 meters tall, could be seen from far and were even mentioned on sea maps. On April 25, 1998, the chimneys were taken down, which was quite a spectacle and was covered extensively by local media. The event inspired a local comedian and musicians to write a song called "De Vief" (The Five), about the role the chimneys had played in the lives of the people of Groningen.