Museum the Experiment Colony

Museum De Proefkolonie is a museum in the Dutch town of Frederiksoord. The museum is dedicated to the work of the Society of Benevolence, which established various colonies in Drenthe in the first half of the 19th century as part of the fight against poverty. Go back in time 200 years to 1818.

In 1818, the socially engaged Johannes van den Bosch comes up with an ambitious plan to combat poverty in our country by establishing agricultural colonies. This marks the beginning of the influential history of the Society of Benevolence. The Proefkolonie Frederiksoord is the first to be established.

By the end of 1818, 52 small farms are ready to welcome poor city dwellers. Here, they can count on work and shelter. Children are required to attend school, and there is a health insurance fund. Churches, shops, schools, and even rest homes are established. With these social provisions, the Society of Benevolence is 80 years ahead of the rest of the Netherlands and is therefore considered the cradle of our welfare state.

Since 2021, the Colonies of Benevolence have been on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

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