Menkemaborg

The Menkemaborg

The Menkemaborg is a stately home in Uithuizen . The history of the house begins in the 14th century. The builders were the Menkema family, about whom very little is known. The complex was well-fortified and initially had a simple rectangular floor plan. The property then came to the Clant van Menkema family. They now gave it an L-shaped floor plan and a stair tower. In 1692 Mello Alberda bought the property. Around 1700, the Groningen city architect Allert Meijer (1654–1722) was commissioned by Unico Alberda to convert the property in the style of the time.

In 1902 the last owner Gerhard Alberda van Menkena (1829–1902) died, his heirs handed the castle and property over to the Museum voor Stad en Lande in Groningen. A lengthy renovation followed until the building was made available to the public in 1927. In 1971 the Museum Menkenaborg Foundation took over the administration. st

exhibition

Central hall

For the exhibition within the castle, eight rooms were supplemented with objects from other country houses in the area. The garden was also reconstructed according to plans from the beginning of the 18th century.

Spaces

Room 1 fireplace room

Above the fireplace is a fireplace painting by A. Wassenbergh: It shows Unico Allard Alberda van Menkema. In addition to other portraits, there is an extensive furniture collection, porcelain and underneath a knotted carpet with the Alberda coat of arms.

Room 2 hall

It is a representative room that was planned together with the fireplace room. The fireplace painting here was created by Hermannus Collenius.

Room 3 study room

The children were taught in this room. There is a bookcase and other teaching material here.

Space 4 bedrooms

The room houses a large magnificent bed that was built by Daniel Marot . This includes a room toilet and a cabinet for bed and underwear. The windows show stained glass from the time after the renovation in 1700. A staircase leads from here to the service rooms in the lower part of the house.

Room 5 kitchen

Here you will find a fully equipped kitchen with drinking water and service water supply . The copper utensils hang on the boards on the wall and the porcelain is on the shelf. In the side there is a servants' room and a staircase leads to the cellar. Milk, preserves and other food were stored there, and the wine cellar is located in the back .

Room 6 dining room

In the room there is a large table that is set with 18th century service . There is also a corner buffet with crystal and glass dishes, and in one corner there is also a serving kitchen.

Room 7 men's room

Here is a buffet with blue and white Chinese porcelain. In addition, a cabinet with curiosities such as exotic coins, shells and fossils etc.

Room 8 hall

As in many other rooms, there are portraits of former residents, plus a cabinet from 1750. There are also sea ​​chests used by Dutch overseas companies.

Garden area

There is a large garden with a tea house. The statues displayed there are copies of the originals from the 18th century. There is also a sundial from 1722. Next to the pleasure garden there is a small maze, as it used to be in many country houses. Next to it is an orchard with numerous old apple and pear varieties and also a kitchen garden. The selection of vegetables and herbs in this garden was based on the family cookbook from the 18th century.

In the past, the products of the garden were stored in the so-called treasure house , a restaurant has now been set up there.

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  garden

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  sundial

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  tea house

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  Treasure House (now a restaurant)

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  avenue

literature

• J. Vinhuisen, HP Coster, De Borg Menkema to Uithuizen in Groninger Volksalmanak , 1929
• Groninger Museum voor stad an lande, Oude luister van het Groningerland , exhibition catalog 1961
• WJ Fromsma, RA Luitjens-Dijkveld, Stol and A. Pathuis, De Ommelander Borgen en Steenhuizen , 1973
• FL Veldmann, L. Veldmann-Planten, De Menkemaborg , 1984
• FL Veldmann, De Menkemaborg , 1988, Ed. Groninger Borgen Stichting
• Leaflet Menkemaborg - The Gardens
• Leaflet Menkema tot Uithuizen

Web links

Commons : Menkemaborg, Uithuizen  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Homepage (German version)