Where is Count Adolf of Nassau, brother of William of Orange and 16th century freedom fighter of the Netherlands against the Spanish occupation, buried? Dr Ralph Hennings, theologian and private lecturer at the University of Oldenburg, investigated this question together with Groningen historian Lammert Doedens.
The trail may lead to Oldenburg: are the count's mortal remains in the Lamberti Church in a collective coffin walled up in the church cellar? The fascinating historical details of the search for the remains of Adolf von Nassau, who died in 1568, can be seen from 20 January to 31 May in an exhibition at the Groninger University Museum (Oude Kijk in't Jatstraat 7a). The exhibition "Tracing Count Adolf of Nassau - a mystery unravelled?" will be open to the public every day except Mondays and public holidays from 13:00 to 17:00. Admission is free.
The German-Dutch research is part of the large-scale project "Freiheitsraum Reformation", which the University of Oldenburg is implementing under the direction of historian Prof Dr Dagmar Freist with partners from culture, science and society to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. This year's project motto is "Searching for traces in the region". Hennings and Doedens will continue their search for Count Adolf over the course of the year.