Page 289 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

GRONINGEN  287

E Noordelijk
Scheepvaartmuseum
Brugstraat 24–26. Tel 050-3122202.
Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sat, 1–5pm
Sun & hols. Closed public hols. &
This maritime museum,
arranged over two restored
medieval houses, deals with
the history of navigation in the
northern provinces from 1650
to the present. Exhibits are
arranged in chronological
order, from the Utrecht ships,
Hanseatic cogs, West Indies The magnificent Prinsenhof, formerly the stadholder’s residence
merchantmen, peat barges
and Baltic merchant ships to oasis in the midst of the busy several different greenhouses
Groningen coasters from the city. Its highlights include a dedicated to a wide array of
20th century. A number of herb garden and a rose garden. climatic zones. There is a tropical
historical workshops, such as a There is also a flowerbed that rainforest with a great variety of
carpenter’s shop and a smithy, is arranged into two coats of exotic flowers. A subtropical
are held in the attic of arms, one with the letter hothouse numbers orange trees
the museum. The W (for William Frederick, among its plants. The various
museum also has the stadholder of climatic areas continue with a
an excellent Friesland), the other desert section. Here, gigantic
programme of with a letter A (for cacti are showcased. Another
temporary Albertine Agnes, greenhouse featuring a mon-
exhibitions, Decorative element from the William’s wife). soon climate contains unusual
featuring all Provinciehuis of Groningen At the side of the carnivorous plants. In the
things marine. entrance is a fine tropical culture greenhouse,
sundial (see p284) which dates you can admire a traditional
Y Prinsenhof and back to 1730. The course of Indonesian sawah (ricefield).
Prinsen hoftuin the old city walls of Groningen The Chinese garden (“Het
Martinikerkhof 23. Tel 050-3176555. is still clearly discernible in verborgen rijk van Ming”, or “The
Open 9am–noon daily. the Prinsenhoftuin. hidden Ming Empire”) is well
The Prinsenhof originally worth a visit. It is a faithful recon-
housed the monastic order of E Hortus Haren struction of a real garden owned
the Broeders des Gemenen Kerklaan 34, Haren. Tel 050-5370053. by a 16th-century high-ranking
Levens. It later became the Open 9:30am–5pm daily. Chinese official of the Ming
seat of the first Bishop of Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec. & 7 - 0 Dynasty (1368–1644). It features
Groningen, Johann Knijff, who Immediately south of the original Chinese pagodas, which
had the entire complex city is the fashionable town have been painstakingly restored
converted into a magnificent of Haren, where an extensive by Chinese craftsmen into fine
bishop’s palace. Until late into park, Hortus Haren, is situ ated. pavilions and then beautifully
the 18th century, the building The park was set up in 1642 decorated with carvings of lions
served as the residence of the by Henricus Munting. Its 20 ha and dragons. Het verborgen rijk
stadholder. The Prinsenhoftuin (50 acres) include a large hot- van Ming also has a waterfall and
(Prinsenhof Gardens) is truly an house complex comprising a tea house where visitors can
enjoy Chinese refreshments.
Another interesting theme
garden is the Ogham Gardens,
a Celtic garden whose main
attractions is the Horoscope of
Trees, consisting of an earth-
and-stone circular wall, which
is a replica of the enclosures
the ancient Celts built to live
within. Inside the circle is a
labyrinth representing life; at its
centre is a small garden and the
Well of Wisdom.
In summer, a variety of exhib-
itions and events are held in the
grounds, attracting locals and
The fascinating Hortus Haren, with its innumerable attractions tourists alike.

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