Ruins of Uilenhorst

In the Netherlands, we love tidiness, so ruins are a thorn in the landscape. We let them decay until they are completely gone. But then a piece of visible history is also lost. This includes the farm 'de Uilenhorst' near the hamlet of Oude Willem, where the first 'Student Work Camp' was held in 1931 (at the Uilenhorst). Right-wing student associations sent between 30-40 students per camp to work for food and lodging in the Drents reclamation area.

They constructed roads and bike paths on behalf of Staatsbosbeheer in 'comradely manual labor outdoors.' The sons of the wealthy were not used to it, seven hours of hard labor. The girls provided food and cleaned the simple accommodations.

The bike path between the forest road and the Pastoorszandweg is named the 'Student Path' as a tribute by Staatsbosbeheer. However, they did not complete the entire bike path. Later, when Jewish labor camps were established by the Germans, Jewish forced laborers from camps Diever A and Diever B finished the bike path. Afterwards, there remained Westerbork. Some argue that the last section should be called the 'Jeudenpad.'

Lonely, the remnants of what was once the farm de Uilenhorst still stand. Bone white in a setting sun, it is at its most beautiful. Innocent stones leading to a guilty history. And you will need to be quick to see the ruin because we do not like clutter.

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