Where Groningen begins. Where the gate in the city wall once provided access to Groningen. Where guards once stood watch to protect the northern part of the city. Corps de Garde has now been a well-known hotel for many years. We spoke to the enthusiastic owners about the boutique hotel and the history of the building.
The beautiful columns, ornaments and arches quickly reveal that the Hotel Corps de Garde building has a rich history. Outside, you can see three lion-shaped gargoyles, which is quite unusual for a non-religious building. As you step inside, you’ll see the words ‘Where Groningen begins’ written in large letters on the wall. And there’s a good reason for this. In 1575, Groningen was a city-state with several gates and a city wall. At the spot where the boutique hotel now stands, you could enter the city through the city gate. In the basement, you can even still see the foundations of the city gate. The current Corps de Garde building was only constructed later.
Guardhouse for military personnel
Around 1625, Groningen expanded considerably and fortification ramparts were built. “At that time, Groningen looked very much like today’s Bourtange, only much larger. If you look at a modern map of Groningen, you can still see the outline of this rampart in the Noorderplantsoen ,” explains Titus Akkermans, the father of co-owner Jan. As Groningen grew, the city gate was no longer needed. In 1633, the current building – a guardhouse for soldiers – was built on this site. It was also known as the ‘Corps du Guarde’, derived from the word ‘guard’. The area where the brasserie now stands was completely open at that time. The soldiers patrolled here and kept watch over the northern part of the city. At that time, the men and officers slept where the hotel rooms are now located. Until the early 19th century, the building served as a guardhouse, but it was also used as a fencing and dance school. In 1991, it opened as a hotel for the first time.
“ ‘People in Groningen in the past found “Corps de Garde” a rather awkward name and corrupted it to “Kortegaard”’ ”
Past in the present tense
The new owners, Jan and Marloes, have transformed the classic building into a charming boutique hotel. Everything has been renovated and refreshed, yet the authenticity remains evident throughout. Every corner of the hotel is an experience in itself, and all the rooms are unique, given a modern, colourful makeover. The hourglass in the Hotel Corps de Garde logo symbolises everything to do with time. Time for a glass of wine. Time for a good night’s sleep. Time for each other. Because time made Jan and Marloes realise what they really wanted. And when the opportunity arose to take over Corps de Garde, they didn’t have to think twice. Together with friends, family and their current team, they’ve worked hard to turn it into the modern boutique hotel that Groningen deserves. A dream come true.
