De Schelpengrot
De schelpengrot at Borg Nienoord is one of three shell grottos in the Netherlands. The garden dome was built around 1700 and is entirely lined on the inside with a mosaic of schelpen and stones.
Take a closer look
De schelpengrot is inspired by de schelpengrot at Paleis Het Loo. Of the three shell grottos remaining in the Netherlands, the one at Nienoord is the only one still in its original state. There is a story circulating about how de schelpengrot came to be. A girl from the village who worked at the castle was very curious about the squire’s treasure chamber. One day, the squire found her in his treasure chamber. As punishment, she was not allowed to leave the room until she had covered all the walls with schelpen. It was only after dozens of years that all the walls were covered with the mosaic. She was finally set free and ran joyfully back to the village. Once there, she looked at her reflection in the water and was so startled by her old and gaunt face that she collapsed, never to rise again. De schelpengrot can be visited during the opening hours of Museum Nienoord.
Opening hours
- Every Monday closed
- Every Tuesday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Every Wednesday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Every Thursday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Every Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Every Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Every Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.