Page 293 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

GRONINGEN  291

6 Pieterburen
Road Map D1. * 500. @ 65, 67, 68.
n Waddencentrum, Hoofdstraat 83
(0595-528522).
One of the best-known places in
Groningen is Pieterburen, home
to the Zeehondencrèche. This
seal nursery was founded by
Lenie ’t Hart and others as a
reception centre for sick and
disabled seals from the nearby
Waddenzee, where some 1,750
seals live. Half of these owe their
lives to care they received here.
The Waddencentrum, also
located here, is an exhibition
centre dedicated to the mud
flats of the Waddenzee. It also Recovering seal in one of the ponds at Pieterburen
provides useful information for
people wishing to walk there. used as a venue for exhibitions, features a ceremonial bed-
while the Schathuis (treasury) is stead dating from the early
O Zeehondencrèche Pieterburen now a lively café and restaurant. 18th century, when King
Hoofdstraat 94a. Tel 0595-526526. William III stayed here. The
Open 10am–5pm daily. P Borg Verhildersum kitchen in the cellar has all the
} Het Waddencentrum Wierde 40, Leens. Tel 0595-571430. old fittings. The gardens were
Hoofdstraat 83. Tel 0595-528522. Open Apr–Oct: 10:30am–5pm laid out during restoration
Open 9am–6pm daily. - Tue–Sun. & work in the 18th century. The
Schathuis (treasury), formerly
Environs used to store the food brought
In Leens, 10 km (6 miles) to the 7 Uithuizen by the townspeople to the
southwest of Pieterburen, is Road Map E1. * 5,300. @ 41, 61, castle, currently houses a café
the stunning 14th-century 62, 641, 662. n Mennonietenkerk- and restaurant.
borg (moated manor house) straat 13 (0595-434051). ( Sat.
Verhildersum, which contains P Menkemaborg
19th-century furnishings. The The exceptionally pretty castle Menkemaweg 2. @ 61. Tel 0595-
castle is surrounded by a wide of Menkemaborg in Uithuizen 431970. Open Mar–Jun & Sep:
moat. Its gardens include an dates back to the 14th century. 10am–5pm Tue–Sun; Jul–Aug:
arbour and sculptures. The It acquired its present-day form 10am–5pm daily; Oct–Dec: 10am–
castle’s coach house is regularly around 1700. The bedroom 4pm Tue–Sun. Closed Jan–Feb. &

Wedding in traditional dress in the gardens of the 14th-century Menkemaborg in Uithuizen

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