Museum
Museum De Proefkolonie
The museum about the Colonies of Benevolence and the families who lived here. Check the website for opening hours and tickets.
Home›Frederiksoord: UNESCO Colonies of Benevolence
Surroundings
Frederiksoord: UNESCO Colonies of Benevolence
A short drive north of Giethoorn, in Drenthe, lies the first of the Colonies of Benevolence, UNESCO World Heritage since 2021. Museum, forest and a very different story from the water village.
The colony
A social experiment from 1818
Frederiksoord was founded in 1818 as the first Colony of Benevolence: an attempt to lift poor families out of poverty by giving them a small farm, a school and strict supervision. The straight roads, the identical colony houses and the fields still show the plan.
In 2021 the Colonies of Benevolence were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Museum De Proefkolonie in Frederiksoord tells the story of the colonists.
From Giethoorn it is a short drive past Steenwijk into Drenthe. Landgoed Baars and Residence De Eese, two forest holiday parks we work with, lie in the same direction.
- UNESCO World Heritage since 2021
- Museum De Proefkolonie
- Near Landgoed Baars and Residence De Eese
Distances and times
How it fits together
UNESCO since 2021The Colonies of Benevolence were listed as World Heritage in 2021.
Short drive from GiethoornVia Steenwijk (9 km from Giethoorn) into Drenthe. We have not measured the exact distance; count on roughly half an hour.
Landgoed Baars: 15 minForest park at Bergweg 76, Baars, about 15 minutes’ drive from Giethoorn.
Residence De EeseBungalow park at Bultweg 25, De Bult near Steenwijk, with its own boats in Giethoorn.
Things to do
Frederiksoord and around
UNESCO World Heritage
Colonies of Benevolence
Walk or cycle the colony landscape: straight roads, colony houses and forest. Frederiksoord is the original colony from 1818.
Holiday park
Landgoed Baars
Forest park between Giethoorn and Frederiksoord. Guests rent boats with us in Giethoorn.
Holiday park
Residence De Eese
Bungalows and camping pitches in the woods, pool, restaurant Heerlijkheid and its own boat rental in Giethoorn.
Forest in the morning, water in the afternoon
Visit Frederiksoord in the morning and be on the water in Giethoorn after lunch. A 2-hour whisper boat from €36 for four people on weekdays; late-afternoon starts are up to 20% cheaper.
Questions about Frederiksoord
What are the Colonies of Benevolence?
Agricultural colonies founded from 1818 to help poor families with a farm, schooling and work. Frederiksoord was the first. They became UNESCO World Heritage in 2021.
How far is Frederiksoord from Giethoorn?
It is a short drive via Steenwijk into Drenthe. We have not verified the exact distance; allow roughly half an hour by car.
What are the opening hours of Museum De Proefkolonie?
Check proefkolonie.nl for current hours and ticket prices; we do not publish times we cannot keep up to date.
Can I combine Frederiksoord with a boat trip?
Easily. Museum in the morning, whisper boat in Giethoorn in the afternoon. Book the boat online so it is ready when you arrive.
Where do I stay nearby?
Landgoed Baars (about 15 minutes from Giethoorn) and Residence De Eese at De Bult near Steenwijk are both forest parks in this direction. In Giethoorn itself: Hotel Old Art and Hotel Giethoorn.