Villa Gelria, Protected historical villa in Helpman district, Groningen, Netherlands
Villa Gelria is a two-story mansion on Verlengde Hereweg with Mediterranean design features and walls painted in shades of brown, ochre, and blue-gray. The main house is accompanied by a coach house and gardener's residence, both now serving as office spaces.
The house was built in 1873 for industrialist Jan Evert Scholten as a symbol of his wealth and success. It served as an SS headquarters during World War II and later housed police offices until 1974.
The name Gelria comes from Latin and refers to the province of Gelderland, reflecting the original owner's regional roots. The building itself carries this connection to Dutch provincial identity in its very name.
The villa is located in an accessible neighborhood with good connections to central Groningen. Keep in mind that the building now operates as office space and can only be viewed from the outside.
A restoration project in 2022 returned the house to its original color scheme, making it visually distinct from other period mansions in the area. The brown, ochre, and blue-gray palette was carefully reconstructed based on historical records.
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