Frederiksoord: Discover the Colonies of Benevolence

Frederiksoord is known for the history of the Colonies of Benevolence and its distinctive cultural landscape. Its founding, small farms, central facilities and various routes offer different insights into the area. If you are looking for a hotel in Frederiksoord, you can plan your stay around your interests: the history of the colonies, the landscape or a particular tour.

The history of the colonies

Frederiksoord was founded in 1818 as the oldest of the Colonies of Benevolence. It was also the original headquarters of the Society of Benevolence. The Experimental Colony was established with 52 small farms intended to house poor city dwellers. These figures and connections give the history a concrete framework: it was a colony with many small farms and a clearly stated purpose.

Central facilities were also part of the colony’s development. The small colony school stood next to the communal kitchen and was among the central buildings at the heart of the Experimental Colony. Children in the colony were required to attend school from the age of six. Along with the farms, the school and kitchen therefore represent different aspects of community life at the time.

The colony cottage originally had a brick living area with alcoves, or sleeping niches. The rear section was made of wood and included a threshing floor and stable.

Cultural landscape and routes

Frederiksoord-Wilhelminaoord is a so-called “free” colony, with small farms along tree-lined avenues. The colony landscape also includes a grid of straight main and secondary roads. The avenues, farms and road layout thus convey different aspects of the settlement: both the arrangement of the farms and the clear structure of the roads.

The routes vary in format and length. The Luistertocht door de Vrije Koloniën is a 26 km cycling tour through the UNESCO World Heritage area. It features stories, music, letters and re-enacted scenes. The Monumentenroute Frederiksoord is an 11 km walking route, paved throughout, passing various monuments of the Society of Benevolence. The shorter Sterrebosroute is also paved throughout and runs for 3 km through the Sterrebos.

When comparing the routes, the main considerations are whether you plan to cycle or walk and what distance you prefer. The two walking routes offer a choice of 3 or 11 km; the longer one passes monuments, while the shorter one goes through the Sterrebos. The 26 km cycling tour, in turn, combines a ride through the UNESCO World Heritage area with a storytelling format featuring texts, music and scenes.

Museum, gardens and visitor information

The De Proefkolonie Museum tells the story of the first colonists through a multimedia journey through time. The exhibition complements the experience of the Colonies of Benevolence and the UNESCO World Heritage site. Check the latest opening information before planning a visit.

The Tuinen van Frederiksoord include De Fruithof, De Tuin zonder Drempels and the Tuinbouwschooltuin. These three names make it easy to include the gardens as separate stops in your visit. For a guided experience through the Colonies of Benevolence, the Elektrische Kolonie Express is another option. It can accommodate no more than 14 people; confirm its capacity before booking.

The TIP Frederiksoord provides information about events, accommodation, cycling, walking and horse-riding routes, attractions and museums. Check the TIP’s opening information before your trip. The Fietstransferium Frederiksoord is a starting point for routes in the region and offers route advice. If you plan to use this service, check in advance whether it is available during your visit.

This makes it possible to explore Frederiksoord in different ways: through the origins of the colony, its roads and farms, its monuments or one of the tours described here.

Discover more destinations: Wapse, Dwingeloo, Wateren, Doldersum, Zorgvlied, Diever, Wilhelminaoord, Havelte

For the regional travel overview: Westerveld.