Exhibition Baked From Sea Clay
From April 1, 2023, a cabinet exhibition about the Mansholt family can be seen in the farm of Wadden Museum Borg Verhildersum, with images and attributes from the personal archive. Such as Hilje Zijlma-Hopma's bridal dress from 1823 and her purse with silver handle from 1815. Also on display are Stephan Louwes' baptismal cap from 1824 and prizes that Derk Roelfs Mansholt won with his agricultural products, books he wrote, and many unique photos. The exhibition takes place in the run-up to the presentation of the book 'Baked from sea clay', which will be presented in September 2022 in the museum farm of the Verhildersum estate. Together with the cabinet exhibition about Cornelis Borgman's journey to America that is taking place at the same time, Verhildersum offers this year a beautiful picture of wealthy peasant life in the 19th century.
Family histories of Groningen farmers from Het Hogeland in book form.
The history of the Rahder, Voerman and Mansholt families has been visualized through the personal family archive. Peter Voerman, descendant of these families, has made available documents and images from the archives that have never been shown before. The stories have been recorded by writer Kees Opmeer in three beautifully designed books. The stories about the Rahder and Voerman families have appeared in recent years.
It is now the turn of the Groningen Mansholt family. The book, with the working title 'Baked from sea clay', is not only about Sicco Mansholt - yes, former Minister of Agriculture and European Commissioner for Agriculture - but also about other members of this influential family.
Ancestor is Derk Roelfs, grandfather of Sicco and Hetty Voerman–Mansholt, grandmother of Peter Voerman. Derk Roelfs (1842-1921), came to the Netherlands from the Ems area in Northern Germany. He was active in politics and an agricultural innovator, together with his brother Jochum and his eldest son Ubbo. The extensive and personal notes of Peter's grandmother, Hetty Voerman-Mansholt, form the basis of the archive and therefore of the book.
The book 'Uit zeeklei gebakken' ('Baked from sea clay') can be purchased for €29.95 in the Verhildersum museum shop and in the online store. Shipping costs will be added.
The history of the farmers in North-East Groningen
The story tells, among other things, the history of the farmers in North-East Groningen in the period from approximately 1850 to the present. The battle against water, the heyday of the grain trade, improving agriculture through better fertilization and strengthening and improving agricultural products. The municipality of 'De Marne' was then, thanks to its farmers, the richest municipality in the Netherlands. The Mansholt family was committed to socialist ideals, the fight for better education, especially for girls, a more fair distribution of land ownership and the eradication of poverty. The book also tells stories about related families Louwes, Zijlma and Dijkhuis who also left their mark on the history of North Groningen.
Current topics
The book gains extra value because we make the connection with current themes that farmers are dealing with: nature management, sustainable livestock farming and arable farming (salinization), energy transition, climate and government policy or farmer protests. To this end, we let farmers, experts and policymakers have their say. That makes the book more than a history book. The book series is beautifully designed by publisher Albert Smit.
Photo caption: Hetty Mansholt with her sister Ada and a cousin and nephew at her grandparents' Farm 'Torum' in the Westpolder, 1907
Walk around Verhildersum through former salt marshes (9 km)
The experience route across the Verhildersum Estate includes a 9 km walk. This walk 'In the footsteps of Edzard van Starkenborgh' goes via Leens and Grijssloot to De Starkenborgh near Wehe den Hoorn and back to Verhildersum. Along the way you will see large farms built on an old embankment of a stream to the Wadden Sea and constructed dikes. Here you walk through former salt marshes created by land reclamation that were drained after dike construction. Also read about the origins of the landscape and look at the 3 mounds on the estate. With our web app Verhildersum To Go! you will experience the Groningen Wadden coast around Verhildersum completely. Experience the landscape and put on your hiking shoes!
Bike tour: Fatty clay makes rich farmers (46 km)
Experience the world of Groningen farmers in the 19th century. Verhildersum, together with Open Air Museum Het Hoogeland, developed six beautiful cycling tours that enhance the experience of your visit to the exhibition. The route Fatty clay makes rich farmers in particular fits this story. Take the free route booklet with you at the information desk or download the free app here: Treasure Map of the Waddenland.