Wortel is a village in the Belgian municipality of

Hoogstraten Hoogstraten () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises Hoogstraten, Meer, Meerle, Meersel-Dreef, Minderhout and Wortel (Meersel-Dreef includes the northernmost point in Belgium). Hoogstrate ...

. As of 2021, it has 1,844 inhabitants. The toponym means carrot or

root In vascular plants, the roots are the organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often below the su ...

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

. Wortel was established in the early 19th century by the Society of Benevolence as a farming colony for the able-bodied working poor. It was meant to provide employment during a time when poverty rates were very high in the Low Countries. Along with the other colonies constructed by the Society of Benevolence, Wortel was inscribed on the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage List A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

in 2021 as an excellent example of a unique method of housing reform and urban planning.

Gallery

File:Kolonie 18, Wortel.jpg, Colony house File:Bewakerswoningen, Kolonie 12-13, Wortel.jpg, Guard house of the colony File:Plattegrond van de kolonie van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid te Wortel Kolonie van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid by Wortel (titel op object), RP-P-AO-3-62F-1.jpg, Colony map File:Wortel (B) - Pastorijstraat 31 - Voormalige pastorie.JPG, Clergy house

References

External links

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Official website of Hoogstraten
Sub-municipalities of Hoogstraten Former municipalities of Antwerp Province Populated places in Antwerp Province {{Antwerp-geo-stub