Overwhelmed in Veenhuizen

Ever since I’ve read “Het Pauperparadijs” by Suzanna Jansen I’ve been meaning to go to Veenhuizen.

Veenhuizen was founded in 1823 as a penal colony for beggars, tramps and orphans. Most façades hold edifying texts like “Productivity”, “Devotion”, “Dutiful” and “Working is living”.

It was strange walking around in an area where you know inhumane plans were carried out in order to get paupers civilized. All well-intentioned at the time, but are now outdated.

The picture shows "The gardens of benevolence", set up only in 2007. Every new part of Veenhuizen still looks like it has been there since the colony was founded in 1823.