UG Buildings: the Faculty of Philosophy

The University of Groningen as we know it now is more than the Academy Building alone. In this series, based on the podwalk and the booklet In het spoor van de Academie (in Dutch only), we are putting a spotlight on various buildings—and a work of art—of the UG and their histories. In this episode: the Faculty of Philosophy.

Faculty of Philosophy

The brick house from around 1300 at Oude Boteringestraat 52 is situated on what used to be one of the city of Groningen’s main arterial roads towards the north. It was the residence of notable families. In the seventeenth century, former Groningen Mayor Barthold Wichering lived there. Later, especially in winter, well-known Groningen squires, such as the Trip and Van Swinderen families, resided there. The building served as a business property for most of the twentieth century. After a renovation and expansion in 2004, it became home to the small Faculty of Philosophy, a  which has about 450 students and around 90 staff members. One of Groningen’s best known professors was Professor Lolle Nauta.

Want to find out more?

Check out the previous edition on

• The Academy Building

• The Ubbo Emmius monument

• The University Library
• The Röling Building
• The former Laboratory for Hygiene

• The former Astronomy Laboratory
• The Institute of Archaeology
• The House with the 13 Temples
• The old courthouse
• The Main Administrative Building

Are you interested in the buildings and history of the UG? You can download the podwalk ‘In the footsteps of the Academy’ for free. Go to the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android) and search for ‘Op stap met Aletta’. At the I-shop (University Shop), the walking guide In het spoor van de Academie (Dutch only) is available for €9.95: www.rug.nl/winkel.