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Dieren en planten

Water en land

History   Stinsen   

Mens en Milieu

The Rinsma State in Driesum, Source: http://community.webshots.com/album/56423261eXJjio

Stinsen

The Frisian word stins means stone house. A stins is a re-enforced stone home, usually surrounded by a moat and often including annexes. Stinsen date back to the Middle Ages, just like the Groninger borgs. The original function was a defensible house, although some stinsen were converted into country estates with a park or garden in the 16th and 17th century. Noble families of Friesland began building stone houses around 1300. During these restless times, the stinsen offered the residents not only shelter but also protection from besiegers and looters in a region where a central authority was lacking. In the whole of Friesland, there are more than 120 stinsen still standing.

  • The tower stins
    The Schierstins in Veenwouden., Source: http://community.webshots.com/album/56423261eXJjio

    Originally, a stins was a house that could be defended, distinguishing itself from other houses because it was built from stone. Normal houses in those days were built from loam and wood. Only well-to-do could afford such an expensive house. The earliest stinsen from the second half of the 13th century were re-enforced towers, where farm residents could retreat to during times of war. They were usually three stories high and contained a cellar with vaults. The stins could only be entered via a ladder on the outside. When the enemy approached, the ladder was removed and the residents were safe. The cellar was closed off from the rest of the building for safety reasons. Such a tower stins can still be found in Veenwouden (see photo under). In the 14th and 15th centuries, stinsen were converted more often into homes. Extra stories were added, with windows and hearths.

  • The 'zaalstins'

    In addition to (house) towers, another kind of stins was also built in the 14th and 15th centuries: the 'zaal' stins. This form was more practical to live in. A 'zaalstins' consisted of a hall-shape room, divided into a small hall and a large hall. The small hall had a hearth and could be heated without too many costs. Fuel was very expensive. The zaalstinsen were expanded over the years with a number of living rooms and annexes.

  • The State
    The Unia State in Beers, Source: http://community.webshots.com/album/56423261eXJjio

    During the 16th century, a central authority had formed which made it unnecessary for the residents to defend their own homes. Stinsen were no longer necessary. Instead, houses were built or renovated to show the status of the resident. Houses resembled castles in rural areas. In many cases, one entered through a stone port built over a moat. Tower stinsen were no longer practical and were demolished. In the 17th and 18th centuries, farms and magnificent gardens for pleasure rose up next to the stinsen. These castle complexes were called States. Later on, only the house was referred to as the State. In 1622, there were 190 states found in the rural areas of Friesland.

  • Disappearance of the states

    In the 18th and 19th century, the majority of the states had disappeared for several reasons. Because the Frisian Court was closed down, the nobility moved to the Hague. To find good jobs, the owners of the states had to sell their land and incurred debts. This led to the sale and demolition of the states. Another important reason for the disappearance of the stinsen and states was the ban of the fidei-commissum. The fidei-commissum meant that the owner of the state or stins had to transfer the house and accompanying ground in its entirety to someone in the next generation. In that way, the wealth was never split up. Fidei-commissum was prohibited when the Civil Code was established in 1838, whereby the wealth had to be divided among several heirs. A final reason for their disappearance had to due to the lack of appreciation. The government did nothing in the 19th century to preserve stinsen and states, since the cultural historical value was not taken into consideration.