Derde gesticht van de kolonie Veenhuizen, huismunt geslagen op last van de Maatschappij van Weldadigheid ter waarde van 25 cent 1818 - 1859

This is a coin from the Veenhuizen colony, commissioned by the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid, or Society of Benevolence. These coins offer a glimpse into a complex chapter of social reform in the Netherlands. In the early 19th century, the Society of Benevolence established settlements like Veenhuizen to address poverty by providing work and housing. This particular coin, worth 25 cents, was used within the confines of the "Third Establishment" of the colony. Imagine holding this coin, knowing it was both a symbol of the colony's self-sufficiency, and a marker of the residents' restricted lives. They couldn't use it anywhere else. These coins invite us to reflect on the fine line between benevolence and control. They testify to the stories of the people who lived and labored in these colonies, and how their identities were shaped by social engineering.