Discover Merksplas: Colony, Landscape and Culture

Merksplas combines an exceptional colonial landscape with museums, historic buildings and varied trails. Merksplas Colony is particularly distinctive: in Flanders, it is considered a unique and well-preserved example of the layout and design of an “unfree” charitable colony. The protected landscape includes biologically valuable to highly valuable forests, remnants of heathland and wetland areas. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Merksplas can therefore tailor their stay entirely to their own interests, balancing culture, nature and outdoor activities.

Merksplas Colony and its history

The colony’s grid-like avenue pattern alternates with fields, meadows, forests and clay pits. The historic ring ditch is still largely preserved and clearly illustrates the special design of the area. One of the notable buildings is the Grote Hoeve, a farm complex consisting of fourteen buildings. It was built in 1880 in the style of monastic architecture and has been protected as a heritage monument since 1999.

At the Kolonie 5-7 visitor centre, the history of the Wortel and Merksplas colonies is presented through an animated film, personal stories from former residents and a virtual flight over the colony. Admission to the visitor centre is free, and it is wheelchair accessible. At Kolonie 5-7, there is also a free car park between the Landloperskapel and the Grote Hoeve grounds. The Landloperskapel was built at the end of the 19th century to a design by Victor Besme; however, a visit to its interior is not guaranteed on the day of your visit.

Museums and historic sights

The Merksplas Prison Museum is the only museum in Belgium to present the history of punishment from the Middle Ages to the present day. It covers both the history of the Belgian prison system and life in the former landlopers colonies of Merksplas and Wortel. Individual visitors can visit the museum on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Groups can reserve a guided visit at any time during the week.

Smaller remnants also add to the historical picture. Pannenhuis dates from 1654 and is the oldest building in Merksplas. The mill remains of the Moermolen are the only surviving remains of the three mills in Merksplas. The Grote Hoeve, the chapel and these older structures offer different ways of exploring the history of the area, without having to limit yourself to a single sight.

Nature, walks and trails

For a cultural and historical walk, the guided Koloniewandeling 5-7 is a good option. The wheelchair-accessible circular route is 3 km long and follows restored buildings and avenues in Merksplas Colony. Merksplas is also part of the “Kempense Kolonies” hiking network. In the Carons Hofke municipal park, two monumental beech avenues lead into the grounds. There, the Belevingspad invites visitors to discover nature through playful, sensory elements; a total of 15 stations are spread throughout the park.

Further natural features can be found in Het Moer, a remnant of a wetland area with swamp forest, as well as in the protected landscape of the colony. The De Kleine Boerderij Merksplas botanical garden can be visited year-round and displays diverse plant collections, some of which are always in bloom. For longer excursions, there is the 190 km Taxandria horse-riding and carriage-driving network, which also passes through Hoogstraten and Merksplas, as well as themed cycling routes such as the Landlopersroute and the Kolonieroute. There is also a mountain-bike route.

Seasonal impressions and choosing your accommodation

A holiday apartment in Merksplas suits a variety of travel plans: you can combine historic sightseeing with walks, garden visits or longer cycling and horse-riding excursions. In winter, Merksplas hosts the Kerstwandelingen every year from mid-December until approximately 6 January. When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore particularly important to consider whether you want to focus on the colony’s culture, the landscape or active trails. This allows the available options to fit into a stay at your own pace, without every trip having to follow the same schedule.

Other places for orientation

For further travel planning, you can also find Wijnegem, Willebroek, Oud-Turnhout, Aartselaar, Brasschaat, Poppel, Ravels and Schilde here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Province of Antwerp.