Steenweg op Wortel 1 , 2330, Merksplas, Belgium
Belgium
Telephone
003214473311
Year Constructed
1825
Status of Establishment
custodial
Additional information
The penitentiary institution of Merksplas was built in 1825 as a colony for the accommodation of beggars and tramps. After WW II, this institution evolved to a half-open prison with communal regime. Today, this institution is a closed penitentiary institution for sentenced persons and a secure institution for social defence for confined persons.In June 2009, De Haven, a ward for the secure care for confined persons with a mental disability, was first occupied. The ward is located in a new building, built especially for that target group. In collaboration with the Flemish government, the penitentiary institution of Merksplas is a trend-setter for the accommodation and treatment of mentally disabled confined persons in an institution for social defence. The penitentiary institution has been a protected monument since 1999 and is located in a classified landscape.