Veenkoloniaal Museum

Return to the Golden 19th Age

The Veenkoloniaal Museum foundation in Veendam has highlighted and demonstrated the history of the Groningen peat colonies since 1939. The peat district was actually the cradle of Groningen coastal trade and agriculture. In addition to their permanent exhibition, the museum features annual temporary exhibitions.

The story of the Veenkoloniën peat district

The topic of the permanent exhibition in the Veenkoloniaal Museum is the Golden Age in 19th- century Groningen. Instead of stories about Jan Saliegeest or turf huts, they focus on the area as a place of industriousness. Special emphasis is on the Groningen Veenkoloniën peat district as the cradle of the Groningen coastal trade and agriculture, based on the descriptions of encyclopaedia author Anthony Winkler Prins in 1870. They also sketch the stories of Aletta Jacobs, Bernhard Vroom, Fré Meis and other individuals who made their mark here.

Historic building

Starting out in the town hall and police station, in 1989 the Veenkoloniaal Museum found its home in the building of the former RHBS of Veendam. The function of this characteristic building – which was erected in 1910 – was to accommodate the local educational institution. The listed building features a permanent collection and various temporary exhibitions, usually with a link to the permanent one.

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