Drawbridge and Lock near Veenhuizen

Veenhuizen is a village in Drenthe with an unusual history, and the drawbridge and lock on its edge belong to a landscape created for a social experiment. In the early nineteenth century, a philanthropic society led by Johannes van den Bosch set up agricultural colonies on the empty heath and peat bog of the northern Netherlands, intended to take poor families and orphans from the cities and turn them into self-sufficient farmers. Veenhuizen was one of the colonies, and the Colonies of Benevolence, as they are known, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2021.

Water was essential to the project. The peat that lay beneath the surface was dug out and used as fuel, and the land was cleared and drained for farming. Canals were cut across the moor to carry the peat, supplies and people, and locks and bridges controlled the water levels and allowed boats to pass. The drawbridge and lock at Veenhuizen are part of that network, a modest piece of engineering that did a vital job. The drawbridge can be raised to let boats through, and the lock keeps the water in each section of the canal at the right height.

Today the structures are still working, and they give a good insight into the practical side of Dutch water management. Watching a boat pass through the lock, with the gates opening and closing and the water rising or falling, is fascinating for children and adults alike. In the quiet surrounding landscape, with its straight canals, rows of trees and low farmhouses, the scale of the engineering becomes clear.

Veenhuizen is also known for its prison. Later in the nineteenth century, the colony turned into a place of detention for vagrants and then for criminals, and the Prison Museum Veenhuizen tells that part of the story, with cells, documents and personal accounts. Other sights include a turf barge and the old power station, which show how the peat was transported and used, and the Colonies of Benevolence museum explains the history of the colonies.

The area is good for cycling and walking along the canals, and the flat paths are easy. The lock and bridge suit visitors interested in engineering and history, and they make a quiet addition to a day in Drenthe. Check the opening hours of the museums and bring a camera.