Scholtenshuis

The Scholtenhuis (or Scholtenshuis) was a well-known and infamous building located in the centre of Groningen, the Netherlands, on the eastern side of the Grote Markt. It was constructed between 1878 and 1881 in an eclectic style by the Groningen architect Jan Maris for the industrialist Willem Albert Scholten. The property consisted of two connected houses occupied by two generations of the Scholten family: W.A. Scholten and his son Jan Evert Scholten. Of the original complex, only the former carriage house with chauffeur's apartment at 8 remains, featuring an “S” above the entrance referring to the Scholten family.

== History == === Construction === “Rieke” (Groningen dialect for “rich”) Scholten wished to live in style in Groningen and had his eye on several houses on the Grote Markt, which were still occupied. A carpenter was sent to inform the residents that there was an interested buyer. The message caused surprise among the ladies Van Imhoff, annoyance with Jonkheer Alberda van Ekenstein, and a third owner refused outright to sell. Scholten then chose a location on the corner of the Gelkingestraat further south and waited patiently until the previous owners passed away. He then bought and demolished the old buildings and constructed his grand residence. From this vantage point, Scholten had a view of both the Grote Markt and the city hall of Groningen. Because he wanted to know the wind direction, he had a weathervane installed on the city hall, visible from his house.