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Wortel Prison

Wortel Prison

Highlight • Historical Site

Wortel Prison

Recommended by 76 cyclists out of 77

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Wortel-kolonie

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Location: Hoogstraten, Turnhout, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Top cycling routes to Wortel Prison

5.0

(1)

199

riders

1. Wortel Prison – Merksplas Colony loop from Hoogstraten

46.9km

03:22

70m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.6

(11)

riders

2. Wortel-Kolonie – Wortel Prison loop from Wortel

53.3km

03:07

70m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

136

riders

3. Gravel path De Roet – Wortel Prison loop from Malle

55.9km

03:54

80m

Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

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Hard

Tips

Dirk V 🚲 🚶📷

September 7, 2021

Until 1993, Wortel prison was a vagrant colony. With the abolition of the vagrancy law, the penal institution was used to house convicts. The buildings were converted, better secured and renovated.

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Frank en Nancy 🇧🇪

September 13, 2021

The prison on Steenweg op Wortel dates from 1825 and was built as a colony for beggars and vagrants. After the Second World War, the facility evolved into a prison and social defense institution for internees. Today it is a penal house with a semi-open regime.

The entire site is 66.25 hectares in size. The cellular complex is divided into eight pavilions, only one of which has individual cells as standard. In the other pavilions, detainees are mainly housed in multi-person cells: cells for two or four people or a few larger living and dormitory rooms. The detainees can be employed in the workshops.

The main complex has been protected as a monument since January 28, 1999 and is located in a classified landscape.

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Mark

October 12, 2022

Straight lanes and monumental buildings dominate the landscape in Merksplas-Colonie. In the past, vagabonds lived here, who were forced to be sent to the Colony. Because they were poor, begged or caused a nuisance. They worked and lived there together. This system came to an end in 1993.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 20 m

Weather

Tuesday 16 December

11°C

6°C

12 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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See rides here

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Location: Hoogstraten, Turnhout, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Wortel Prison

1. Wortel Prison – Merksplas Colony loop from Hoogstraten

2. Wortel-Kolonie – Wortel Prison loop from Wortel

3. Gravel path De Roet – Wortel Prison loop from Malle

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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