Estate Nienoord Through the Centuries

A lecture and short film held on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of Estate Nienoord, the 75th anniversary of IVN Westerkwartier e.o., and the renewal of Museum Nienoord.

The families Van Ewsum and Van Inn en Kniphuizen contributed to the development of Leek and the creation of the estate. The Van Panhuys family built the current manor (borg) on the remaining foundations of the old one.

Wigbold Van Ewsum came from Middelstum to what is now called Leek in 1525. There, he built a manor and started peat extraction. The small river De Leke was dredged into what is now the Leeksterhoofddiep. Anna van Ewsum married a Van Inn en Kniphuizen and commissioned the tomb monument made by Rombout Verhulst in the church of Midwolde.

The lecture will explore questions such as: How did Estate Nienoord originate? What impact did peat extraction have on the landscape? What buildings existed on the estate and how did they change? What types of trees and gardens were added over the centuries, and which animals lived there? What happened to the estate after it was acquired by the municipality of Leek in 1950, and how has it been used since?

After the lecture, a short film will be shown featuring the plants and animals currently found on the estate.

Shortly after the lecture, IVN Westerkwartier e.o. will organize an excursion through the estate focusing on its flora and fauna.