1 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 10 - 88 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16 - 15 - 14 - 1

Together with the Valley of the Merkske and the Castelreesche Heide, the Kolonie forms about a 2000 ha nature reserve. Visitor Center De Klapekster is the base for biking and hiking tours. The colony of Wortel was known throughout Europe for taking in the poor and vagrants. Here and there you can find traces of it. We are happy to take you on a journey of discovery.

Wortel Colony is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the series of Colonies of Weldadigheid in the Netherlands and Belgium. These areas were set up in the 19th century in the north of the Netherlands and in the Antwerp Kempen region as agricultural colonies for a social purpose of poverty alleviation and gained international acclaim as social experiments. The entire landscape was designed, the buildings were carefully planned with an eye to efficiency and to maintain good overview and control. The area worked as one closed entity.

The starting point

The starting and ending point of the colony walk is BC De Klapekster (Kolonie 41 in Wortel). The visitor center is also the place to go for more mapped walks. There is ample parking. In visitor center De Klapekster you can also visit the toilet, get more information or just have a drink.

Visitor Center De Klapekster is open Tuesday through Saturday between 1 and 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The main attractions on the route.

-The tramp farm with Visitor Center De Klapekster

-The Bootjesven

-The geometric mosaic of long, austere avenues interspersed with farmland and fens, all laid out and maintained by former residents.