Museums and galleries in Groningen

Step into the entirely different world of De Buitenplaats Museum in Eelde, housed in a complex that is a high-profile example of organic architecture. Brick walls and overgrown piled stones alternate, flowery garden roofs and multicoloured borders run over into ‘green outdoor rooms’ of trimmed box trees and yew trees. Together they frame contemporary figurative art exhibitions with work from any style, country and time. Amidst all this are the stage events from chamber music to singer-songwriters and from poetry to salsa. The adjacent Nijsinghhuis also opens its doors on a regular basis. A listed building from 1654, in recent decades it has been decorated with interior paintings by Matthijs Röling, Wout Muller, Olga Wiese, Clary Mastenbroek and Pieter Pander.

Exhibitions, Kunst op Straat (Art in the Streets) and Art Library The Groningen Centre of Visual Art (CBK Groningen) leases out works of art and supervises visual art assignments for companies and in public spaces. They are also responsible for the maintenance of over 400 works of art in the streets and borough of Groningen and hold educational activities and interesting exhibitions. They have extensive digital documentation by professional artists and designers from the city and the province of Groningen. Private individuals, as well as companies, art institutions, artists and schools, are welcome at the CBK. For more information, go to www.cbkgroningen.nl. Opening hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 12 –5 pm

La K aserna is located in the former Headquarters of the Royal Military Police at Bad Nieuweschans, situated at the Dutch-German border. The Art Space of La K aserna occupies the entire ground floor of the historic building. The Heritage Lodging is on the first floor of the right wing, where de Commander with his family used to live. The spacious apartment has its own entrance. It can accommodate up to four people. There is a livingroom, two bedrooms and a bathroom. The kitchen on the ground floor can be used upon request. The terrace next to the moat of the former citadel is a good place to relax outside in summer until late in the evening. There are four bicycles available and wifi is also free.

The Mohlmann Museum is established in the historic Muzeheerd and surrounded by a heavenly garden. This private museum has become a popular venue for those who like contemporary realistic and figurative art. It won the Golden Museumkwartier Award in 2017 and 2018, a price by the public fot a very special museum.The museum was set up from this passion and originated through the very realistic paintings by Rob Mohlman. The museum displays work by him, in addition to a large collection of works by other renowned artists. But there are also collections with works from the Middle Ages, The Golden Age and there is a special Cabinet for the youg died Jan Mankes (1889-1920). Three exhibitions per year are held, including, since 1998, the annual Independent Realist exhibition, when about 100 well-known artists show what they are doing, because people simply never get bored with reality... Closed from 23 December until the last Sunday in March.  

The Bourtange fortress is also referred to as the fortress that was never conquered. The order for the construction of an initial reinforcement to an important passage through the marsh was given in 1580 by the illustrious William of Orange. The fortress was at its largest in 1742. The information centre (the fortress entrance building) is the basis for a visit to the fortress. In addition to a concise visual introduction about the history of the fortress, they provide information about contemporary Bourtange. The Bourtange fortress is open all year, and the restaurants and shops determine their own individual opening hours. An entrance fee is charged for a visit to the Bourtange fortress museums; combined admission tickets are available in the information centre.

In four particular museums and a sea aquarium under one roof, visit a stalactite cave and a megalith, be surprised by the variety of shapes and colours of shells, crystals, minerals, stones and ancient fossils: discover the world below sea level in the sea aquarium. Inside the three-metre thick walled bunker dating from the Second World War are aquariums with fish, crustaceans and molluscs from the North Sea and Wadden Sea. There are also magnificent models of ships, ancient ship and navigation items, and paintings, books and photographs which portray the rich maritime history of the Delfzijl seaport town. The Muzeeaquarium is currently closed and scheduled to reopen on October 14, 2017.

The Haren Hortus Botanicus (botanical gardens) is located a few kilometres south of the city of Groningen, and provides a varied selection of themed gardens on a terrain of no less than 20 hectares. Be surprised by the magnificent Chinese Garden, enjoy the fabulous view from the rock garden, explore the secrets of the Celtic garden, wander the heath and admire the giant sequoia in the Laarmantuin. Children can participate in treasure hunts, and the gardens include various catering facilities for a drink and snack.  

Works mostly created by artists from the northern part of The Netherlands are on display in this attractive ambiance, such as still lives by Frans Brommer, Sietse Jonker, Derk van Dijken and Jan Brinkgreve. The city and coastal scapes by Groningen Ploeglid artists’ collective member Wouter Okel, the landscapes by Gertjan Scholte-Albers, Jan Jansma, Gerald Schuil and Gerda Onnes and the surprising works by Wout Wachtmeester and Marcel Duran are part of both the permanent and regularly changing collection of Galerie Aanblick. Once a month Marcel Duran creates portraits live in our gallery for prices from €300.00. The portraits in oils with a size of 30-24 cm can be taken home after one hour’s posing. Marcel is famous for his portraits of professors which are displayed in the Academiegebouw university building. Every second Monday of the month Gerda Onnes holds a painting workshop in Aanblick, and the gallery also has a collection of decorating Dutch and French clocks for sale. In addition, Galerie Aanblick has a permanent exhibition in the Fletcher Familiehotel in Paterswolde, featuring many paintings. You are more than welcome at our Haren or Paterswolde gallery.

The entirely renovated MOW | Museum Westerwolde is an interesting museum in magnificent surroundings and with changing exhibitions as well as a permanent exhibition with works of art by fine artist and magic realist Lodewijk Bruckman, and different local artists. MOW constantly renews itself by emphasising on changing central exhibitions. MOW has three main topics: art, region and history.