Merksplas Colony

Candle straight lanes and monumental buildings dominate the landscape in Merksplas Colony. In the past, vagrants lived here and were sent to the Colony. Because they were poor, begging or causing nuisance. They worked and lived together. This system came to an end in 1993.

There are no more vagrants in the Colony, but their story is engraved in the landscape. Merksplas Colony is now an important heritage site with protected monuments in a protected landscape.
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Once a colony for vagrants, today it is mainly a place for various types of birds, bats, insects and other inhabitants. Hikers, cyclists and riders come to Merksplas Kolonie to enjoy the peace and the landscape. Characteristic avenues, open fields, fens and grasslands alternate. Since 1999, the area has been a cultural-historical heritage. This unique landscape also has a fascinating history that you can discover in the visitor centre Kolonie 5-7.

This photo is the colony of Wortel and not of Merksplas.
The colony of Wortel is located about 5km further towards Wortel-Hoogstraten.