Uniastate Bears

About the museum

The influential Unia family once lived in Bears; their ancestral home ("state") was demolished in 1756. Afterwards the site lay fallow for centuries; the only witness left standing was the gatehouse (Poarte) of 1616. Around 1990 an initiative arose to make the state visible again.

Since then, a steel replica based on a design by the artist Bep Mulder has risen on the site of the old walls, a kind of mirage of the past. The L-shaped structure has a slender stair tower, from the top of which one looks far across the Frisian pastureland. Added to this is the Cultuurspeelplaats, a playground opened in 2013 with tilted "old furniture" of the state.

The visitor centre is in the Mariakerk of Bears, an early Gothic church from the 13th century with a pulpit of 1759, an organ by Van Dam and gravestones of former residents. There, hosts explain the history, a timeline and a film show how the mirage was erected, and in the gallery there is a media library on states and stinzen in Friesland. The Tsjerke & Uniastate Bears foundation, established in 1992, manages the church, the site and the gatehouse.

Highlights

• Steel mirage of the Unia State with lookout tower
• Gatehouse (Poarte) of 1616 as the only original part of the state
• 13th-century Mariakerk with pulpit of 1759 and Van Dam organ
• Media library on states and stinzen in Friesland
• Cultuurspeelplaats with "old furniture" as play equipment

Permanent exhibitions

• Stählerne Luftspiegelung der Uniastate – Replica of the state demolished in 1756 as a steel structure with a tower that can be climbed and distant views.
• Besucherzentrum und Mediathek in der Mariakerk – Timeline, film about the erection of the mirage and a media library on states and stinzen in Friesland.

Operated by

Stichting Tsjerke & Uniastate Bears

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

No admission fee; a voluntary donation is requested (donation box at the reception in the church). The educational programme for school classes costs €2.50 per pupil.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Discovery programme for primary school classes. Children may climb the tower of the mirage, climb the old spiral staircase to the upper floor of the gatehouse, ring the church bell and visit the burial chamber; there is also the playground with "old furniture".

Getting there & parking

The visitor centre is in the Mariakerk on the Tsjerkepaad; the stinzen site can be reached via a path by the old school (village house) and through the Poarte.

Amenities & dining

In the reception room, coffee, tea and soft drinks are available for a small contribution; postcards, route descriptions and mostly free brochures are on the counter.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Official wedding venue of the municipality of Leeuwarden (standard cost €200 plus municipal fees and catering); meeting room in the church gallery ("Kraak") available for hire; programmes for family celebrations, receptions and company outings on request.

Plan your visit