The imagination displayed by the new tenants of the Enne Jans Heerd is an example for the entire province, says former government architect Floris Alkemade.
There was already a family festival, many people have already tasted the coffee and the Cultural Committee Winsum uses it as their home stage. Nevertheless, many people will get to know the ‘new’ mound Maarhuizen for the first time at the opening party on Saturday (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Curious
“We notice that people are curious about how it turned out. Although we have been improvising since the closure of conference center De Hoogte, we have already been kind of open”, says Mayke Zandstra.
Together with her partner Gijs van Rhijn, she transformed the ancient Enne Jans Heerd op de wierde along the old road from Winsum to Mensingeweer into a home for their family, with a day café annex catering business and a cultural stage. Next year, two hikers’ cabins will be added, all under the name At Maarhuizen .
Knotted together
Until 2011, the herd was leased as a private farm and fences were placed around it. The wierde is now publicly accessible and has a social role. While the new tenants were busy with the renovation, the owner Staatsbosbeheer renovated the mound.
“We have expanded the orchard, tackled the landscape, there is a new jetty for canoeists where you can have a picnic, the bridge has been renewed and walking and cycling routes have been linked together,” says advisor Bram Verhave of Staatsbosbeheer, who said that the farm acquired in 1977.
“Via land consolidations we have come into possession of all kinds of ‘difficult corners’, forest edges and special places. So is agricultural heritage. We preserve these cultural-historical pearls with care. But it’s not often that we develop them again. You can now visit a day café at Maarhuizen and walk through a historic part of Groningen in a beautiful landscape.”
Admiration
Former Chief Government Architect Floris Alkemade made no secret of his admiration at the official opening on Friday. “Monument care is not just about preserving a building. A monument should not be a dead building, but play a role in the future. This requires a lot of initiative, perseverance and, above all, imagination. If things go the same way in Groningen as in Maarhuizen, the province will be all right.”
Staatsbosbeheer is now working on a similar function for the adjacent ‘tyre farm’, which it itself uses as a base.
Zandstra is already going to have a top season at Maarhuizen. ,,The reactions are very positive, and the arrival of Zummerbühne (the performance Ripperda ed) we immediately get 26,000 visitors!”