De ‘schelpengrot’ van de Borg Nienoord

During the 2019 Christmas holidays the author stayed in the northeast of the Netherlands. At that time the ‘shell cave’ at Borg Nienoord in Leek (province of Groningen) was visited. This orangery (i.e., the shell cave) was commissioned by Georg Wilhelm state baron Von In- and Kniphuizen (1635-1709) when he was the acting Lord of Nienoord and Vredewold. According to a newspaper article from 2010, 56 different species of shells were mounted in the shell cave. This article lists the species distinguished by the author. Furthermore, there are two legends attached to this shell cave, which are related and discussed.