Drents Museum De Buitenplaats

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum's starting point is the Nijsinghhuis, a 17th-century manor house that later served as the town hall of the municipality of Eelde. In 1971, collectors Jos and Janneke van Groeningen acquired the dilapidated building for a symbolic guilder and committed to restoring it in line with heritage standards. From 1983 on, they had walls and ceilings painted by artists of the so-called noordelijke figuratieven (Northern figurative painters) – Matthijs Röling, for instance, designed the ultramarine "Blue Room," and Wout Muller an erotic cabinet.

In the early 1990s, the couple set up a foundation to build a museum pavilion for their collection of contemporary figurative and realist art. The design came from the firm Alberts & Van Huut in the style of organic architecture, with green roofs that flow seamlessly into the garden. Queen Beatrix opened the museum in October 1996. By 2000, a museum garden of about one hectare with a maze, reflecting pond and historic apple orchard had been created to plans by Jørn Copijn, Charlotte Korthals Altes and Janneke van Groeningen; an orangery was added in 2006.

After Jos van Groeningen's death in 2018, the couple's residence also became part of the museum. Since 2024 the museum has belonged entirely to the Drents Museum in Assen and, as the only museum in the Netherlands to do so, focuses on Art Nouveau and art around 1900 from its collection, usually in two changing exhibitions per year. The building ensemble is owned by the foundation Het Drentse Landschap.

Highlights

• 17th-century Nijsinghhuis with wall and ceiling paintings by Matthijs Röling, Wout Muller and Pieter Pander
• Blue Room and erotic cabinet in the Nijsinghhuis
• Museum pavilion in organic architecture by Alberts & Van Huut
• Freely accessible museum garden with sculptures, maze, reflecting pond and an orchard of heritage apple varieties
• Changing exhibitions on Art Nouveau and art around 1900 from the Drents Museum collection

Permanent exhibitions

• Nijsinghhuis – The first floor of the 17th-century manor house, with the murals by the noordelijke figuratieven, is accessible with an admission ticket; the upper floor only on guided tours.
• Museumtuin – Freely accessible garden with themed gardens, an arbor of pear trees and wisteria, a historic apple orchard and sculptures by artists including Lotta Blokker and Fons Bemelmans.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Drents Museum (Assen); Eigentümer des Gebäudeensembles: Het Drentse Landschap

Admission & discounts

Free with the Museumkaart; likewise with an ICOM card, VriendenLoterij VIP card, Rembrandtkaart (Vereniging Rembrandt) and the friends' card of the Drents Museum or De Buitenplaats. Online booking is recommended even with a free pass. The museum garden and Brasserie Röling can be visited without a ticket. Card payment only on site (PIN), no cash. Tickets bought at the desk are valid only on the day of purchase; tickets cannot be refunded but can be rebooked.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum building and brasserie are easily accessible with a wheelchair, rollator or small mobility scooter. In the Nijsinghhuis, only the first floor is wheelchair-accessible (entrance at Hoofdweg 80, ring the bell); the upper floor is not accessible because of stairs, and mobility scooters cannot be used inside the house. The garden is only partly accessible due to thresholds and steps. Wheelchairs and rollators can be reserved in advance; folding stools are available without reservation. Accessible restroom with baby changing facilities in the museum building.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

For children, there is the art detective scavenger hunt through the museum garden (pilot project). The museum building is easily accessible with a stroller; strollers and buggies are not allowed in the Nijsinghhuis. Children up to age 17 are admitted free.

Getting there & parking

For GPS: Hoofdweg 76, Eelde. Bicycles can be parked in front of the entrance.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Brasserie Röling (freely accessible, from 10:00, terrace and conservatory, homemade cake, organic regional lunch dishes); museum shop in the pavilion. Coats and bags larger than A4 must be left in the cloakroom or lockers.

Events & venue rental

As far as we know, the museum does not rent out spaces for external events.

Rooms (including the orangery) are generally available for meetings, corporate events, parties and weddings; rentals are currently suspended temporarily due to staff shortages.

Plan your visit