Society of Benevolence, Frederiksoord and Wilhelminaoord

In the early 19th century there was a lot of poverty in the Netherlands. To remedy this situation, poor families were sent to the so-called ‘free colonies’ Frederiksoord and Wilhelminaoord to be re-educated. Johannes van den Bosch founded a social welfare institute known as the Society of Benevolence and established several agricultural colonies in Drenthe, where the poor were given shelter, clothing and health care in exchange for labour in the fields. Boys as well as girls were obliged to go to school. In seven years’ time, seven such agricultural colonies were founded, which left their mark on the landscape.

Visit the colonies of Frederiksoord and Wilhelminaoord and experience the story of Johannes van den Bosch in Museum De Proefkolonie.