Museum de Proefkolonie
Museum the Proefkolonie
It is 1818 and the Netherlands ‘are on fire’. Napoleon has abandoned our country as ‘Koninkrijk der Armen’ ('Kingdom of the deprived'). The socially engaged general Johannes Van den Bosch acts as a lifesaver, coming up with an ambitious plan to fight poverty in our country by founding agricultural colonies.
This is the beginning of the influential history of the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid (Society of Humanitarianism). The Proefkolonie (Trial Colony) Frederiksoord is the first to be founded. At this location in south-west Drenthe, there are 52 small holdings, ready to receive the poor urbanites. Here they can count on getting a job and a roof over their heads. The children must attend school and there is a private health insurance fund. Churches, shops, schools and even nursing homes are being built. In terms of social security, the Society of Humanitarianism is about 80 years ahead of the rest in the Netherlands and is therefore considered the birthplace of our welfare state.
See - experience - Marvel
Go 200 years back in time and experience this unique story by Johannes Van den Bosch.
In the new Museum the Proefkolonie in Frederiksoord you tread in the footsteps of the first colonists and experience their unforgettable story via unique multimedia time travel!
Enter our urban slums of the old days: smell the poverty and feel the misery. Watch the video that show how the first colonists arrived at their new 'paradise' after an arduous journey. Discover in the exposition room what becomes of Van den Bosch's ambitions. Here it becomes clear how his meticulously calculated plans clash with the obstinate reality. finally get an answer to the question how the agricultural colonies of the Society of Humanitarianism continued and learn about the unique tangible legacy of this social experiment.
Discover the history in the ‘Outdoor museum'
Subsequently, a number of hiking and biking routes from the museum invite you to recover the remarkable historical legacy in the landscape. Go on a quest a find the colony dwellings, the tiny church, the basketry up to the forest management school and horticultural school. A new world will open up to you!
Surrounded by 3 National parks
The former Colonies of Humanitarianism Frederiksoord, Willemsoord, Boschoord, Vledder and Zorgvlied are at the heart of 3 Nationale parks. The Drenthe Friese Wold, Dwingelderveld as well as the Weerribben are each beautiful nature reserves to be explore by bike or on foot. The employees of the TIP office with the museum will be happy to advise you about the most beautiful routes. Bike rental at the museum.
