Frederiksoord

Frederiksoord is situated in the municipality of Westerveld, in the south-west of Drenthe, between Diever, Vledder and Wilhelminaoord. The village lies on the edge of the Drents-Friese Wold National Park and , together with Wilhelminaoord and Willemsoord, forms the historic heart of the Colonies of Benevolence. Thanks to its central location, Frederiksoord is an ideal base for a walk, a cycle ride or a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Frederiksoord is known as the place where the first Colony of Benevolence was founded in 1818 by Johannes van den Bosch. This marked the start of a remarkable social experiment to combat poverty through work, education and agriculture. The characteristic straight avenues, historic colony cottages and historic buildings still serve as a reminder of this remarkable history.

Since 2021, Frederiksoord has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Colonies of Benevolence’ and attracts visitors from home and abroad who wish to learn more about this unique chapter in Dutch history.

The Colonies of Benevolence were agricultural colonies established from 1818 onwards by the Society of Benevolence. The aim was to offer poor families from the cities a new future by providing them with work, shelter, education and care. Frederiksoord was the very first pilot colony and went on to serve as a model for other colonies, such as Wilhelminaoord, Willemsoord and Veenhuizen.

The distinctive layout of the landscape, with its straight avenues, farms and colonial-style houses, is still clearly visible. Owing to their global historical significance, the Colonies of Benevolence have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2021.

In 2021, Frederiksoord, together with the other Colonies of Benevolence , was granted UNESCO World Heritage status . In doing so, UNESCO recognised the exceptional value of the social experiment that began here over two hundred years ago. In Frederiksoord, an attempt was made to combat poverty by enabling people to build a new life through agriculture, work and education.

The original structure of the landscape, with its long, straight roads, characteristic colonial-style houses and listed buildings, remains largely intact and still tells the story of this remarkable history.

Frederiksoord is steeped in history. Visit Museum De Proefkolonie and discover how the first settlers lived and worked. Then take a stroll through De Tuinen van Frederiksoord at DE PROEF., where you can wander through over eight hectares of historic gardens, orchards and the former Horticultural School. Be sure to pop into the Koloniehuisje, where you can see how a colonial family lived over two hundred years ago.

You can then explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site further via one of the many walking and cycling routes through the characteristic colonial landscape.

Are you visiting Frederiksoord in September? Then you mustn’t miss the annual Frederiksoord Flower Parade. During this colourful event, impressive floats, fully decorated with thousands of dahlias, parade through the village. On Saturday 12 September 2026, the parade will wind its way through Frederiksoord, and there will also be an atmospheric evening parade. The Flower Parade has been one of the region’s biggest crowd-pullers for many years and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Definitely. Museum De Proefkolonie is the place to experience the story of the Colonies of Benevolence. Through interactive presentations, personal stories and multimedia installations, you’ll step back in time to the year 1818 and discover how thousands of families tried to build a new life in Drenthe.

After your visit to the museum, you can continue to explore the story outdoors at the Koloniehuisje and via various walking and cycling routes past historic colony houses, schools and other monuments. This makes the museum the ideal starting point for a visit to Frederiksoord.

Yes, Frederiksoord is an excellent destination for walkers. From the village, you can walk past historic colonial houses, stately avenues and historic buildings that form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Colonies of Benevolence’.

We highly recommend the Koloniepad, which takes you past the most important sites in the history of the experimental colony.

Prefer a shorter walk? Then opt for the Sterrebos route, which is around 3 kilometres long. Along the way, you’ll pass Museum De Proefkolonie, the Kolonieschooltje and the picturesque Sterrebos.

The Gardens of Frederiksoord at DE PROEF are also open to the public and offer a wonderful walk through over eight hectares of historic greenery.

From Frederiksoord, you can also easily walk to the Drents-Friese Wold National Park, one of the largest contiguous nature reserves in the Netherlands, featuring vast forests, heathland and drifting sand.

Absolutely. Frederiksoord is a popular destination for cyclists thanks to its tranquil colonial landscape, dead-straight avenues and numerous monuments. The ‘Weldadig Rondje’ cycle route takes you past the most beautiful spots in the Koloniën van Weldadigheid.

The ‘Fietsrondje Frederiksoord | Education in the Colonies of Benevolence’ tour is also highly recommended if you’d like to learn more about the history of the experimental colony.

Would you like to enjoy a culinary stop-off along the way? Then choose ‘Van Kolonie naar Kolonie Happen & Trappen’, a cycle route that combines culture, nature and gastronomy.

From Frederiksoord, you can also cycle straight into the Drents-Friese Wold National Park, where dozens of kilometres of cycle paths through woods, heathland and drifting sand areas await you. Places such as Wilhelminaoord, Willemsoord, Diever and Vledder are also within easy reach.

If you haven’t brought your own bike, you can visit the Frederiksoord Bike Transfer Centre. Here you can hire city bikes, e-bikes, mountain bikes, tandems and other two-wheelers. The Fietstransferium is also an ideal starting point for cycle routes through the Koloniën van Weldadigheid and Drents-Friese Wold National Park, offering route advice, charging points and other handy facilities along the way.

Would you like to experience the unique atmosphere of the UNESCO World Heritage Site for longer? Then Hotel Frederiksoord is an excellent choice. This historic hotel is situated inthe heart ofthe Koloniën van Weldadigheid and is an ideal base for walks, cycle rides and a visit to Museum De Proefkolonie.

From the hotel, you can easily explore both the historic colonial landscape and the natural beauty of the Drents-Friese Wold National Park.

Frederiksoord has a small but surprisingly varied range of restaurants and cafés. For a special culinary experience, POSTEN Nordic Cuisine is highly recommended , where seasonal produce and local ingredients take centre stage. Hotel Frederiksoord also has a charming restaurant where you can enjoy lunch or dinner.

Are you visiting Museum De Proefkolonie? Then the Grand Café is also a lovely place to settle down for a cup of coffee, lunch or a treat. Round off your day with a visit to ‘t Zoete Schuurtje, where you’ll find old-fashioned scoop sweets and other sweet treats. This makes Frederiksoord not only a destination steeped in history, but also a lovely spot to enjoy a little break along the way.

DE PROEF. is situated on the site of the former Frederiksoord Horticultural College, the place where Dutch horticultural education first began. Today, this historic site has been given a new lease of life as a green campus where heritage, food, nature, education, art and culture come together. Here you’ll find inspiring gardens, a local produce shop, exhibitions, events and a variety of activities.

DE PROEF. also collaborates with POSTEN Nordic Cuisine, where herbs, flowers and vegetables from the gardens are incorporated into the dishes. This makes DE PROEF. a special place where the history of Frederiksoord is linked to sustainable ideas for the future.