Estate
Collection
Fraeylemaborg estate is a registered museum. The period rooms show life in a stately home in the 20th century. The Van der Hoop family lived among centuries-old heirlooms and younger acquisitions, and this is reflected in the rooms. Besides the family portraits, porcelain and furniture, there are highlights of (applied) art, such as a beautifully restored writing desk from the workshop of André Boulle, an extensive collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, paintings from the Hague School and a painted ceiling from the 17th century.
On display in the borg are objects from the historical inventory of the Fraeylemaborg (formerly owned by the Thomassen à Thuessink van der Hoop van Slochteren family and previous owners). There are also objects that fit the borg in terms of type, style and period (including loans from the collection of the Jan Menze van Diepen Foundation, the van der Wyck-de Kempenaer Foundation, the J.B. Scholten Fund and the Groninger Museum). A special place also has the work of the painter Gerrit van Houten, his family and their collection.
History of the collection
In 1971, the Van der Hoop family sold the Fraeylemaborg estate at Mak van Waay in Amsterdam and Beyers in Utrecht. The remaining assets were sold at a two-day auction on the borg grounds in April 1971. Thanks to an active acquisition and loan policy, a large number of important pieces from the historical estate have since been returned. This forms the core of the presentation.
The Gerrit van Houten Foundation bought the borg to preserve the estate and to display its own collection of works of art, namely the almost complete oeuvre of the Groningen painter and draughtsman Gerrit van Houten (1866-1934). Art by talented family members such as Gerrit’s sister Alida van Houten (1868-1960), niece Barbara van Houten (1862-1950) uncle Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831-1915) and aunt Sientje Mesdag van Houten (1834-1909) and their acquaintances form part of the collection. More about this collection: www.gerritvanhouten.nl
During a visit, information about the collection is available in the form of a manual, inventory lists for each room, the Fraeylema app and an audio guide. Our volunteers will be happy to assist you. For further questions, please contact the curator: info@fraeylemaborg.nl
Research
From April 2025, the Fraeylemaborg house archive will be publicly accessible at Groninger Archieven. For access, contact Groninger Archieven and view the inventory online: 2393 Fraeylemaborg, 1584 – 1976 (Groninger Archieven) – groningerarchieven.nl
The catalogue is not (yet) publicly accessible. This is being worked on with the help of Erfgoedpartners Groningen. Research into the collection is certainly possible and welcome. Please contact the curator: info@fraeylemaborg.nl
The Fraeylemaborg has had an exhibition program focusing on Groningen history and art since 1975. The exhibition archive is accessible by appointment with the curator: info@fraeylemaborg.nl
