U Bevindt Zich Hier - Veenhuizen NL - 'You Are Here' Maps on Waymarking.com

"When you are in Veenhuizen, you immediately see that something special has happened here. It looks different from any place in Drenthe or the Netherlands. Stately avenues and beautiful Colony Houses with inscriptions such as Order and Discipline and Work and Pray. Everywhere you can find the unique history of this village.

Veenhuizen was one of the seven Colonies of Benevolence and the largest unfree colony. Families, orphans, beggars and vagrants stayed here under 24-hour guard. They were sent by the many local departments of the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid from dozens of larger towns in the Netherlands.

After the modern welfare state came along, with unemployment benefits and health care for all, poverty reduction with the system of agricultural colonies was no longer necessary. After 1953, no new colonists were sent to Veenhuizen. And the institutions were gradually put to use as prisons."
Souce and more information: (visit link)

Location Name: Parking Norgerweg, Veenhuizen, The Netherlands.

Visit Instructions:

A photo of either you or your GPS at the site is welcomed but not required.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.