Verhildersum

Verhildersum is an 80-acre estate with a fortified manor house, formal gardens, fruit orchards, and a working farm museum all contained within its walled grounds. The complex includes residential buildings, storage structures, and exhibition spaces that together show how rural communities functioned as self-contained worlds.

The property became the residence of Edzard Tjarda van Starkenborgh and his wife Alieda in 1820 after the fortified farmhouse was redesigned and enlarged. This transformation turned a working farm into a prominent noble household that would define the estate's character for generations.

The estate reflects how nobles, workers, and farmers lived side by side in the 19th century, each playing a role in shaping the Hogeland region. Walking through the grounds, you notice how their separate worlds were physically connected yet socially distinct.

The estate is accessible by car with free parking available, and there are charging points for electric bikes on the grounds. Plan to spend several hours exploring the different zones and buildings, as the property is large and spread across considerable distance.

The orchard preserves old fruit varieties that have been grown in the region for centuries and are now rarely found elsewhere. On display is the Eagle plow, a farming tool brought from New York in 1850 by a local farmer named Cornelis Borgman, which represents early agricultural innovation.