Exhibitions

Who were they?
Stories about the 18th-century residents of the Menkemaborg.


In 2012 the Menkemaborg celebrates its 85th anniversary as a castle museum, which makes it the second oldest castle museum in the Netherlands. In this ‘Year of the Historical Country House’, we focus on its residents.

From the 14th century on, the Menkemaborg was occupied by various families, among them the Clants. But in 1682 the estate was bought by Mello Alberda, and it remained in the family’s possession as their country residence until the death of the last Alberda in 1902. His heirs donated it to the Groninger Museum, and after restoration the mansion was opened to the public in 1927.

Portraits and various items offer us an impression of their lifestyle, but who were the actual people that dwelt here? The large family archive, preserved at the Groningen Archives, is an important source containing letters, accounts, school and exercise books, inventories and marriage contracts, as well as the unique recipe book. The records mostly concern business matters and include relatively few personal documents.
Room by room, photos and papers from the archive reveal glimpses of who the Alberdas were as a family.

About food and drink in the 18th century

Eating and drinking is something we all enjoy, and in the 18th century this was no different. But what was it that people in those days ate and drank?
What kinds of utensils were used and what customs were observed? How was the food prepared and how did the family obtain the ingredients? By means of the exhibits, let us take you along to the Alberda family who lived here in the 18th century. The family have 'briefly gone outside', but this will offer us an opportunity to peep into their home for a taste of the good life that the Alberdas lived at the Menkemaborg.