Heerlijkheid Ruinen - Ruinen

Heerlijckheid Ruinen is now a real brink village. Originally, such a brink was located at the edge of the village where the cows and sheep were herded together in the evening and in the morning. Due to the growth of the villages, later on that brink often ended up in the centre of the village and took on the function of a central market square.

In 1139, Ruinen was a High Heerlyckheid. Otto of Runen received the rights from the Diocese of Utrecht in that year. The lords of Runen lived at their castle De Oldenhave. This havezathe is unfortunately no longer visible and the monastery behind the Maria Church has also disappeared. The lords of Ruinen had their own lords' bench in the church, a replica of which is still present.

It was a time when Ruinen had its own laws and jurisdiction. People were even allowed to hand down the death penalty here. And that is what happened. On the road from Ruinen to Pesse, where the old stagecoach route once lay, you can still see a slight slope in the landscape... the Galgenberg.

In summer, the village celebrates this history through the Brinkdagen in the afternoon and evening. Be sure to visit on Wednesdays and settle down on one of the terraces on the Brink.

Photo: ©Zuidwest Drenthe