Prinsentuin Groningen

A building with a lively history, in the 15th century it served as residence of the princes of Nassau later as National Court. There was also a use of the French troops as a hospital and barracks. After a renovation, the radio station Rono was housed there. During the 2000 years the building was empty for a period of about seven years, then in August 2012 the Grand Café - Alacarte - Hotel Prinsenhof Groningen was opened. To emphasize is the entrance gate and the garden which is also called Prinsentuin and can be visited in public. The opening hours are:
Friday
10: 00-18: 00
Saturday
10: 00-18: 00
Sunday
10: 00-16: 30
Monday
10: 00-18: 00
Tuesday
10: 00-18: 00
Wednesday
10: 00-18: 00
Thursday
10: 00-18: 00

The Prinsenhof is a building at Martinikerkhof in Groningen, at number 23.

From around 1040 - 1215, the home of the villicus, the then name of the representative of the sovereign, the bishop of Utrecht, was already on the spot.

The building was originally (1436) owned by the Brothers of Common Life. In 1569 it became the residence of Johannes Knijff, the first bishop of Groningen and Drenthe. He had wings built with stone from the Bloemhof monastery near Wittewierum.

In 1576 it became the residence of Stadholder Rennenberg. After the Reduction (1594) the building became the residence of the stadholders, the princes of Nassau, hence the name Prinsenhof or Stadhoudershof. By the way, they didn't make much use of it. The main residence, also of the Frisian governors, was in The Hague or Leeuwarden.

After extensive dismantling in 1795, it became the National Court. In 1808 (French) military hospital; from 1898 military police barracks (Dragonder barracks). From 1924 the building was neglected. Gradually restored in the thirties of the 20th century. From 1945 to 2005, regional broadcaster RONO (later RTV Noord) was established here. After the building had been vacant for almost seven years, Grand Café - Alacarte - Hotel Prinsenhof Groningen opened at this location in August 2012.

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prinsenhof_(Groningen))

From 1594 the Prinsenhof became the residence of the governors: the princes of Nassau. Especially for them the Prinsentuin was created in 1626 with a rose garden, a herb garden and a beautiful berceaus (tree-lined path).It is one of the purest examples of a Renaissance garden in the Netherlands. The Prinsentuin is completely walled. Partly for this reason, it is an oasis of calm in the middle of the bustling city center of Groningen. From the Turfsingel, the sundial gate gives access to the garden.
Above the sundial is a Latin text:
"Tempus Præteritum Nihil Futurum Incertum. Præsens Unstable Cave Ne Perdas Hoc Tuum."
This can be translated as follows:
"The past is nothing, the future uncertain, the present shaky. Make sure you don't waste yours."
The annual festival Poets in de Prinsentuin is organized in Prinsentuin. The tea room in the garden is also open when the weather is nice.visitgroningen.nl/nl/locaties/2959780166/prinsentuin