Bontehuis
A building called the Bontehuis has stood on this spot for centuries.
Have a look now
Location
Its predecessors were demolished or burnt down but were repeatedly rebuilt under the name Bontehuis. Tradition has it that the roof of the very first Bontehuis was covered with brightly coloured roof tiles: hence the name Bontehuis. The Bontehuis was an inn with stables for horses, a grocery shop and an apple orchard. It is said to have been known during the French period as a smugglers’ den for spirits, particularly the then much-loved ‘foezel’, made from potatoes. It must have been a hive of activity here, with boatmen, travellers and regulars.
This building has stood here since 1908. In Aletta’s day…
Its predecessors were demolished or burnt down but were repeatedly rebuilt under the name Bontehuis. Tradition has it that the roof of the very first Bontehuis was covered with brightly coloured roof tiles: hence the name Bontehuis. The Bontehuis was an inn with stables for horses, a grocery shop and an apple orchard. It is said to have been known during the French period as a smugglers’ den for spirits, particularly the then much-loved ‘foezel’, made from potatoes. It must have been a hive of activity here, with boatmen, travellers and regulars.
This building has stood here since 1908. In Aletta Jacobs’ day, you would have been standing by the water’s edge, in front of the Bonthuizerbrug bridge over the old Winschoterdiep. The building was designed in the Art Nouveau style, an innovative movement which also produced posters calling for the fight for women’s suffrage. In 2007, it was slated for demolition, but this was prevented by protests from local residents.
This location is part of the route'In the footsteps of Aletta Jacobs'.