The Nienoord estate was founded in 1508, when squire Wigbold van Ewsum bought extensive stretches of peatland near Midwolde. He had a new house built, the “Nije Oord”, and had peat excavated. Because peat was an important fuel, Van Ewsum and his descendants were able to build a fortune.
The Nienoord house grew into the largest borg (noble country house) in the Northern Netherlands. The church in Midwolde came under the control of Nienoord and became the family burial church.
