Source: Wamba
In 1881 the vagrant colonies of Wortel and Merksplas were established, with a central building and a farm. The two colonies together had about 5,000 boarders just before World War II. Merksplas had a closed regime. In Wortel, the vagrants were not really locked up, but were used on the farm and in fields. They have given the domain of 600 hectares of forest, arable land and nature reserve its current appearance. With the abolition of the vagrancy law in 1993, the history of Root Colony was also sealed.
The cemetery with 170 graves of vagrants reminds of those who - often involuntarily - created the magnificent domain with hard work. In the photo on the right the name-bearing graves, on the left the - at first glance - nameless. A closer look reveals that most 'unnamed' graves are provided with a lead plate in which the number and name of the deceased are punched.
Some of the graves are truly anonymous.
Source: Gazet van Antwerpen
| | Public | Dutch
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