Veenhuizen

by Cor Rijpma

In this photograph, we see a distinctive building in Veenhuizen, Drenthe – a village with a unique history closely linked to Johannes van den Bosch and the Society of Benevolence. What can be seen here? The plaque bearing the inscription ‘ "WERKZAAMHEID" ’: Clearly visible on the left-hand façade is a white plaque with black lettering bearing the text ‘WERKZAAMHEID’.

Virtually all historic houses and institutions in Veenhuizen bear this sort of educational and edifying motto on their façades (such as ‘Sense of Duty’, ‘Labour is a Blessing’ or ‘Knowledge is Power’).

The historic architecture: This is an elongated, former institutional or colonial-style house with red roof tiles, distinctive dormer windows and white shutters on the windows. The austere, functional architectural style is reminiscent of the village’s nineteenth-century past.

The background to Veenhuizen and Johannes van den Bosch In 1818, General Johannes van den Bosch founded the Society of Benevolence to combat poverty in the Netherlands. His idea was to send paupers, beggars and orphans from the major cities to undeveloped 'woeste gronden' in Drenthe to work and farm there, with the aim of turning them into useful and moral citizens.From 1823 onwards, Veenhuizen was established as a large-scale workhouse run by the Society (later taken over by the central government), where thousands of people were put to work.

Hard work, order and discipline were central to this – hence the apt and austere motto ‘Diligence’ on the façade. Today, it is no coincidence that the unique cultural landscape of Veenhuizen, including these historic buildings, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.