Uniastate
Bears, Friesland
Uniastate (also known as Nyenhuis or Nieuw Huistrastate) was a stins — a noble fortified house — first mentioned in the 15th century in Beers. It was completely demolished in 1756, except for the entrance gate. At the end of the 20th century, an imposing steel structure was erected on the site as a “mirage” of the past.
History and remains
The original building belonged to the powerful Unia family. The stins suffered a fire in the early 16th century, was rebuilt, then damaged again before eventually being demolished. The entrance gate, built around 1616 by Tjaerd Tyara, is the only historical remnant still standing.
The steel mirror structure
Installed on the site in 1993, a gigantic full-scale steel framework recreates the volume of the original stins. Its jagged, lightweight silhouette acts as a shadow of memory in the rural landscape.
Cultural centre and site experience
Next to the framework, the Uniastate cultural centre is located in the village’s old church. It features a visitor centre with exhibitions on stinsen, archaeological remains, local archives and offers panoramic views from the tower within the steel structure.
Why stop here
- A fascinating visual interplay between vanished heritage and contemporary installation.
- The contrast between the stins’ “shadow” and the surrounding Frisian nature is highly photogenic.
- A free museum, open from April to September, and a historic church-museum.
Galerie photos
Jan Dijkstra, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
