It's a journey through time that takes you from the strict discipline of the Colony of Benevolence to today's prison. An essential experience to truly understand the context of this special village - and the ground on which you stay with us.
Hop in for a ride you won't soon forget: a trip with the iconic Boevenbus (Prisoner Bus). Where prisoners were once transported through the village behind the bars of this bus, you now take a seat for a unique journey of discovery through Veenhuizen, then and now.
As the bus slowly drives through the monumental avenues and past the impressive prison complexes, the guide brings history to life. You'll hear the stories that remained behind bars, learn why the houses here bear names like 'Work and Pray' or 'Discipline and Order', and discover what daily life was like in this closed Colony.
It's the perfect way to experience the enormous scale of the village and the Colony of Benevolence at a relaxed pace. With the guide as your narrator, every bend is a new story and every street a page from a turbulent past.
The National Prison Museum is not just a place for history lessons; it's a grand adventure for young detectives! Here, children can interactively discover what it was like in the most exciting penal colony in the Netherlands.
What's there for the kids?
The Boevenbus: A ride in a bus with real bars on the windows - who dares to get in?
Interactive scavenger hunts: Become a detective yourself or discover the secrets of the museum with the Lange Leo route.