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University of Groningen Library More heritage Exhibitions

Groningen City Map 1575

Bas Teunissen

Almost 450 years ago, the city of Groningen was much smaller than it is nowadays. The city’s surface was less than everything that can be found within the limits of the canals these days. The Groningen Museum would be on the star-shaped island, the shopping center at Westerhaven would be somewhere in a meadow and one would be hard-pressed to find the Noorderplantsoen for some relaxing. Still, the city is easily recognizable on this map dating from 1575.

This map is a copper engravement of a birds-eye view of Groningen in 1575 as it was published. Owners could have their personal maps colored, if they wanted to.
This map is a copper engravement of a birds-eye view of Groningen in 1575 as it was published. Owners could have their personal maps colored, if they wanted to.
The colored map looks like this. This specific map is part of the Mello Backer collection.
The colored map looks like this. This specific map is part of the Mello Backer collection.
Backer was a wealthy man in 19th-century Groningen and had studied at the University of Groningen. Besides his work as a member of the Provincial States of Groningen, he gathered porcelain, and books and maps of Groningen, such as these.
Backer was a wealthy man in 19th-century Groningen and had studied at the University of Groningen. Besides his work as a member of the Provincial States of Groningen, he gathered porcelain, and books and maps of Groningen, such as these.
Groningen, wealthy, populous, and a Frysian city strongly defended against hostile attacks, built by Ptolemeus Phileon and named after Grunno, brother of the French king Anthenos. In the year 377 before the birth of Christ, writes Hunibaldus.
Groningen, wealthy, populous, and a Frysian city strongly defended against hostile attacks, built by Ptolemeus Phileon and named after Grunno, brother of the French king Anthenos. In the year 377 before the birth of Christ, writes Hunibaldus.
Grunno was a Trojan exile. Poets tried to give the city of Groningen status by creating a connection with this mythological figure. This manuscript from the 1530s contains the first known mention of ‘Grunus’.
Grunno was a Trojan exile. Poets tried to give the city of Groningen status by creating a connection with this mythological figure. This manuscript from the 1530s contains the first known mention of ‘Grunus’.

This virtual exhibition was made as part of the Summerschool Things That Matter 4.

Last modified:30 January 2020 09.33 a.m.
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