Ulrum combines a distinctive settlement form with a rich church history. Its special character includes the double-terp village, the church of Ulrum and the memory of the 1834 Secession. Other features include the reconstructed Borgstee with its Baroque garden, a historic village walking route and a museum in a former railway station. If you are planning a stay with a cultural focus, you will find different ways to explore the village’s history here—from the layout of the settlement to specific buildings and collections.
Terps and a Designed Landscape
Ulrum is a so-called double-terp village with a clearly recognizable rectangular layout. The settlement is of considerable archaeological value. It is therefore worth looking not only at individual sights, but also at the form of the village itself: the settlement structure and building history offer two different ways to understand Ulrum.
Between 1985 and 1988, the Borgstee, surrounded by ditches and featuring a Baroque garden, was reconstructed as a walking park on the site of the former Asingaborg. The design combines a historic site with a deliberately created garden layout. This gives the village’s history a distinct focus alongside its church buildings. Those interested in the cultural landscape can therefore view the Borgstee as a complement to the settlement form and the history of the church.
Church, Architecture and the Secession
The early building history of the church of Ulrum comes with a clear qualification: it is believed that the church was built around 1225 to replace an older church on one of the terps. It is considered an example of the first phase of Late Romanesque architecture. Its presumed construction date and architectural classification make the church an important part of the village’s historical context.
The church also contains an Asinga pew dating from 1660. This specific furnishing adds a later, precisely dated reference to the early building history. Together, the church’s presumed date of origin and the year of the pew offer a glimpse of how different historical layers come together in one building.
The church and parsonage ensemble is also connected with the Secession: it began in 1834 from this ensemble in Ulrum and is associated with Ds. Hendrik de Cock. This date clearly distinguishes this period in the village’s history from the church’s presumed construction date and the later Asinga pew. Ulrum’s religious history cannot, therefore, be reduced to a single building or period.
Museum de Eenhoorn
On the edge of Ulrum, Museum de Eenhoorn is housed in a former railway station that is a Rijksmonument, a listed national heritage site. The collection includes more than 30 works by the painter and draughtsman Johfra. Here, a listed railway station building and a clearly defined collection focus come together. The museum adds a distinct cultural dimension to the history of the church and settlement: the building’s historic use and Johfra’s works are two different topics to consider when planning a stay.
Historic Walk and Waterway
Ulrum 1834 offers a village walking route linking places associated with Ulrum’s history in 1834. Its focus is therefore a specific historical subject. It is a useful guide for anyone who wants to understand the Secession not just as a date, but also in relation to places in the village.
The waterway is another factor to consider when choosing a destination: Ulrum is still accessible by water via the Hunsingokanaal. If you are considering arriving by boat, check the current navigation conditions beforehand. This is a practical addition to the historical topics, not a statement about any particular route or its duration.
To decide whether Ulrum is right for your trip, you can weigh its different attractions: the terp settlement and Borgstee, church architecture and the Secession, or the museum and its Johfra collection. The village walking route puts a particular focus on 1834, while the Borgstee and church reveal other aspects of local history. This lets you choose Ulrum based on the topics you would like to explore during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Molenrij, Mensingeweer, Lauwersoog, Wehe-Den Hoorn, Warfhuizen, Leens, Kloosterburen, Zoutkamp.
View the broader travel guide: De Marne.
