UG Building: the Harmonie Building

The University of Groningen as we know it now is more than the Academy Building alone. In this series, based on the podwalk and the booklet In het spoor van de Academie (in Dutch only), we are putting a spotlight on various buildings—and a work of art—of the UG and their histories. In this episode: The Harmonie Building.

The building used to be home to the association Sociëteit De Harmonie, which was used for music performances. It had a large concert hall, known around the world for its good acoustics. In 1973, the building, which was in a bad state, was partly demolished. The remainder was retained and extended with new-build. The façade was restored and it now forms the front of the building that was put into use by the Faculties of Arts and Law in 1988. The Law Faculty has since moved to the Röling Building, and the Faculty of Arts stayed in the Harmonie Building. It has over 5,000 students and 700 staff members.

In the centre of the square, a work of art is erected by Marthe Röling. The polyester pennant symbolizes the interaction between student and lecturer. Inscribed on it are the words ‘non scholae, sed vitae’, derived from a saying by the Roman philosopher Seneca. It means that we do not learn for school, but for life.

Above the tympanum of the Harmony Building, you can see twelve golden owls. They are a tribute to the Greek goddess Pallas Athena. She is often depicted with an owl to symbolize her wisdom. They are decorated with gold leaf, and their eyes have different colours, representing individual wisdom.

The bust on the square in front of the Harmonie Building is an ode to Aletta Jacobs, made by sculptor Theresia van der Pant. It shows the determination of this trailblazer for later generations of female students. Aletta from Sappemeer was not only the first female student at a university in the Netherlands, but she also became the first female physician, and in 1879 she was the first female PhD graduate , also at the Groningen University.

Want to find out more?

Check our overview page for the editions on the Academy Building, the Ubbo Emmius monument, the University Library, the Röling Building, the former Laboratory for Hygiene, the former Astronomy Laboratory, the Institute of Archaeology, the House with the 13 Temples, the Old Courthouse, the Main Administrative Building and the Faculty of Philosophy.

Are you interested in the buildings and history of the UG? You can download the podwalk ‘In the footsteps of the Academy’ for free. Go to the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android) and search for ‘Op stap met Aletta’. At the I-shop (University Shop), the walking guide In het spoor van de Academie (Dutch only) is available for €9.95: www.rug.nl/winkel.