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Belgium

Flanders

Antwerp

Turnhout

Hoogstraten

Wortel Prison

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Places to see

Belgium

Flanders

Antwerp

Turnhout

Hoogstraten

Wortel Prison

Recommended by 70 cyclists out of 71

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Location: Hoogstraten, Turnhout, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Top cycling routes to Wortel Prison

4.7

(10)

riders

1. Wortel-Kolonie – Wortel Prison loop from Wortel

52.9km

03:05

70m

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

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Intermediate

136

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2. De Renesse Castle – Wortel Prison loop from Malle

56.1km

03:54

80m

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

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Expert

4.5

(2)

191

riders

3. Wortel Prison – Merksplas Colony loop from Hoogstraten

46.5km

03:21

70m

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

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Intermediate

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

Today

Tuesday 16 September

17°C

12°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h

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See rides here

Take Me There

Location: Hoogstraten, Turnhout, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

Wortel Prison

1. Wortel-Kolonie – Wortel Prison loop from Wortel

2. De Renesse Castle – Wortel Prison loop from Malle

3. Wortel Prison – Merksplas Colony loop from Hoogstraten

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