Provincie Groningen Things to Do Tips by tompt Top 5 Page for this destination

Old estates in Groningen

Throughout the province Groningen you can find 16 remaining estate houses (borg):
Allersmaborg near Ezinge, dates back to the 14th century but is restored and changed in the 19th century.
Breedenborg near Warffum built in 1587 and demolised in 1850. The owner, a farmer built a modern borg on the site.
Coendersborg in Nuis is built in 1813 on the site of an older borg.
Ekenstein near Appingedam, built in 1648.
Ennemaborg in its present form since the 18th century, is owned by Maya Wildevuur, artist.
Ewsum near Middelstum was built by knight Onno van Ewsum in 1472. The tower still dates from that period, the rest is gone. In 1932 a farm was built on the site it is Amsterdams School architecture.
Fraeylemaborg in Slochteren is an estate dating from the 19th century.
Huis te Wedde was originally built in the 14th century.
Iwema-Steenhuis is the only surviving stonehouse.
Menkemaborg in Uithuizen gives an impression of noble life in the 17th and 18th century.
Nienoord is in Leek. Original borg was built in1525. It burned down and a new one was built in 1885/86 by the family Van Panhuys . The four of them drowned after their carriage got in the water in 1907. The borg now houses a museum.
Piloersema near Den Ham is built in 1633.
Rensumaborg, mentioned since 1555, got its current look in 1700.
Rusthoven near Wirdum has 1686 on its walls.
Verhildersum is a museum, with 19th century rooms.
Welgelegen near Sappemeer was built in 1647.

See a map of the borgen in Groningen .

Bourtange

Another city, alot smaller but at least as old is Bourtange. It still has the ancient walls around it that protects it from enemy troops for ages. Several times a year they play re-enactments of ancient battles. But at other times the fortress is worth visiting too.

In 1580 Prince William of Orange ordered a fortified pentagon to be constructed on a road linking the city of Groningen with Lingen and Westphalia. The Prince hoped to force the surrender of Groningen which had been occupied by the Spanish. In 1593 the citadel was completed. Groningen acknowledged defeat on the 23rd July 1594 and the citadel of Bourtange became part of the borderdefences of the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe.

The citadel was dismantled in the second half of the 19th century, when modern warfare made it useless. In 1964 the municipality of Vlagtwedde restored and reconstructed the citadel, based on the situation as it was in 1742, when the fortress had reached its maximum size.

The fortress can be visited free of charge. There is an entrance price for musea and exhibitions.
The opening times of the musea and the exhibitions are:
From April 1 to October 31: Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 17.00. Saturday and Sunday from 11.00 to 17.00. From November 1 to March 31: Every Saturday and Sunday from 13.30 to 16.30.

Address: Bourtange

Directions: Near the german border. Near the town of Vlagtwedde, Groningen.

Website: http://www.bourtange.nl/

Groningen city

The capital of the province and the 7th town in our country is well worth visiting. The entire centre of the city is free of cars, just bicycles and people on footh. There are some nice old buildings tho be seen. But the city is also known for the biggest collection of buildings from the amsterdam school outside of Amsterdam. Groningen is a university city and therefor has lots of pubs and plenty nightlife.

We made a Groningen city page with lots of architecture tips and some info about its history and local customs.

Website: http://www.vvvgroningen.nl