Verhildersum Estate

Shining diamond of the Hogeland
In the Hogeland, north-west of the city of Groningen, close to Lauwersmeer National Park and the Waddenzee, is the beautiful village of Leens. It is surrounded by old trees, endless fields, meandering canals, mounds and stately homes called borgs. On the outskirts of the village you’ll find Verhildersum Estate. Encorporating a wealth of history and culture, this 80-acre estate tells the story of the 19th century Hogeland.

Take a walk into the past and learn about the former landed gentry and new inhabitants of the borg, the wealthy peasantry and poor labourers. In short, about all facets of the estate’s history. Discover its stories by yourself, with friends or family and see them come alive at Verhildersum.

An old driveway lined with impressive trees leads to a beautiful building. The centuries old Borg, a fortified farmhouse that evolved into a castle, served as a country house for distinguished families such as the Tjarda van Starkenborghs and later notary Van Bolhuis and his family. Discover the rise of the bourgeoisie and the history of the Groningen landed gentry. On your tour of the house you’ll experience how these families lived in and round the borg almost 200 years ago. Meet Edzard Tjarda van Starkenborgh and his wife Alieda, who lived in the borg from 1820-1821.

The path along the Orchard with its ancient fruit varieties and the Workers Cottage leads to the Farm. Cornelis Borgman and his family were the first occupants of Oud-Bocum farm. He came to symbolize the thirst for innovation in the farmers’ community in Groningen. After visiting his cousins in New York in 1850, he brought a major agricultural improvement back with him: the Eagle plow. Discover why this plow was so much better during your visit to our Farm Museum. Learn about these rich farmers, about their travels to New York, about Parisian fashion and professorships at the University of Groningen. Take a walk on the estate and see the traces of their wealth and ingenuity.

The estate was always a hive of activity with various people coming and going: not only the borg’s inhabitants, the farmers, the staff, the craftsmen and villagers, but also labourers, first as permanent hired hands, later as seasonal workers, who did most of the work. Among the latter was the De Vries family. In 1880 they bought a plot of land and built the Workers Cottage there, which now showcases the way they lived back then.

Immerse yourself in history during an extraordinary visit of the shining diamond of the Hogeland, Verhildersum Estate.