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Disappeared museums in Groningen

By: Franciska de Beer, 22 February 2018

Museums come, museums go. These four Groningen museums have not withstood the test of time.

1. Ethnological Museum

From Moroccan necklaces to Surinamese rag dolls. Many pieces from the Ethnological Museum were collected by the Groningen professor of theology Theodoor Pieter van Baaren. Because his collection became too large for his house, he donated his collection of primitive art to the University of Groningen under one condition: a museum had to be built. For example, in 1978 the museum opened in the former textile factory on Nieuwe Kijk in 't Jatstraat. Van Baaren named the museum after his predecessor at the RUG: former minister Gerardus van der Leeuw. The museum was only 25 years old. The university sold the property to a project developer who turned it into apartments.

2. Tobacco Museum

As with the Ethnological Museum, the history of the Tobacco Museum begins with a hobby collector. When Niemeyer discovered the collection of pipes, snuff jars and tobacco boxes of Georg Brongers from Middelstum, the Groningen tobacco manufacturer came up with the idea of ​​establishing a Tobacco Museum. For decades, Niemeyer's museum shared the roof with the Maritime Museum on Brugstraat, but that came to an end in 2011. Niemeyer got a new owner, British American Tobacco, who would have little interest in this Groningen history. Moreover, the promotion of smoking was no longer considered responsible at that time. Or as the NOS headlined at the time: 'Smoking is out, Tobacco Museum is closing'.

3. Institute of Industry and Technology

A fire brigade exhibition, a space exhibition or an exhibition about 'the industrious woman'. By organizing professional exhibitions, the Northern Institute of Industry and Technology tried to help students with their career choice. In the building on Agricolastraat, a post office, a bank, a shopping street and even a laboratory had been simulated. This allowed students to experience what it is like to be a cashier or banker. The institute opened its doors in 1965, but had to close again in 1987 because of withdrawn subsidies from the northern provinces.

4. Nature Museum

On the last day, a record number of visitors entered the Nature Museum. They all wanted to take one last look at the stuffed mammoth, colorful butterflies and beautiful birds. The museum was founded in 1932 and at the time, together with the Maritime Museum, was located in the Goudkantoor. After several relocations, the Nature Museum moved in 1995 to the former Groninger Museum on Praediniussingel, which currently houses the Minerva Art Academy.​

To the chagrin of many townspeople, the great interest on the last day could not prevent the closure in 2007. Too little money and too few visitors killed the museum. The Nature Museum was 75 years old.

Note: This article has been translated using Google Translate