Assen Discovery Tour: From Convent to Palace Town

Drents Museum

The Drents Museum was founded in 1854 and stands on historic ground. Cistercian nuns came from Coevorden around 1259-1260; the convent is first mentioned in 12…

Gouvernementsgebouw

The Gouvernementsgebouw is the old provincial house, built in 1882-1887 by Van Lokhorst and Havelaar on the convent's west wing. Since 1976 it has been part of…

Abdijkerk Assen

The Abbey Church, also called the Kloosterkerk, was the church of Maria in Campis. The tower fell in 1601; rebuilding followed in 1662 and a new choir in 1817.

Brink Assen

The Brink is the shared green the convent chose. Cafés line the north side. The town charter was signed in a house on the east side.

Ontvangershuis

In the Ontvangershuis Louis Napoleon put an important signature on paper on 13 March 1809. It is now a wing of the Drents Museum.

Bartje

Bartje is Anne de Vries's character. After vandalism the limestone original was replaced by a bronze twin. Bartje is famous for the line: 'I won't pray for bro…