Resort Like Prisons Of Holland

Tiny lawns, garden beds, sports grounds and buildings constructed by famous architects are all situated on the territory of the Holland prison which reminds more of a recreation facility but not a correction one. It provides its 167 prisoners with all necessary things. You have a chance to look at the place until it is closed due to reduction of crime level in the country. Local government is ready to accept foreign criminals to prevent Holland prisons from decay.

This is a medium-security prison which contains 167 prisoners and 140 employees. Taking pictures of the prisoners is prohibited.

The prison looks like a park inside. The Dutch can be definitely proud not only of their cheese, tulips and wind-mills but also of the penitentiary system that had gone through perfection since the 16th century. In 1595 they built the first prison where criminals were engaged in working and where the principle of humanity prevailed.

One can get the idea of the place only looking at the barbed wire fences.

The territory is divided into parts which are connected with one another with the help of such gates.

The doors are distantly controlled. After arrival the prisoners are sent to the shower where their personality is checked.

Evacuation plan.

Posters for personnel.

Custodial regimen becomes less severe when the term of imprisonment is about to come to an end. Prisoners are even allowed to go home on weekends.

Doors are supplied with special electronic locks.

They can meet relatives once a month for 2 hours and make paid 10-minute calls a week. There is a library here that can be attended once a week as well.

The yard.

A solitary ward.

Prisoners can work 4 hours a day and earn 25 Euros a week.

Each room is supplied with a radio, TV socket, watching TV costs 6 Euros a week.

This room is intended for two people.

Those who misbehaved are sent to the isolation ward. It is empty and has no windows.

They are also supplied with a special uniform.

The prisoners are also given a piece of chalk to draw on the door. This can be the only thing to do.

It is believed here that drawing is very important for every prisoner.

The yard.

View from the window. 

A catholic board school was located here before and was later turned into a prison.

Young people constitute the highest percent of the Dutch prisoners (4.7%).

The ground is used for walking.

If somebody can't afford paying 6 Euros a week for watching TV in the ward, he can do it in the hall.

There is a kitchen on the left where prisoners cook food for themselves. According to director's words, this process makes them kinder.

The prison has standard rooms. Corridors end with a kitchen where anyone can cook for himself if he doesn't like the menu. Prisoners are given jam, rolls, coffee, tea and juices for breakfast. A dinner consists of three hot dishes, salads and fruits. In some prisons it's allowed to order dishes from restaurants. Jews often order Kosher food. Prisoners have a right not to attend the dining room. In this case they will be delivered food but before it's necessary to check whether the delivered menu corresponds to the dishes on the list.

This is the building where young people who haven't reached the age of 23 spend time before the court. Preliminary conclusion can't last longer than 3 months.

These are the wards. Prisoners are interested in behaving well as this allows them to get benefits, having a houseplant is one of these.

A prison must remind of home. Otherwise a person will only become more angry.

The doors had to be all wooden until criminals started to kick them off. After that the doors were covered with metal panels.

Another building.

Sports ground.

A hotel.

Good doctors, attentive nurses and best equipment are available. Only two cases of tuberculosis were recently revealed. Since 2008 the practice of giving food additives reducing stress conditions has been introduced. In one of prisons they started dispensing reagent called orange aroma associated with health and freshness and decreasing aggressiveness.

The splendid view is spoilt only by the fence.

A floating prison is another peculiarity of Holland. In 2007 the country couldn't stand the influx of immigrants. In spite of the fact 20 000 people without documents were deported and their number was increasing continuously. That's when it was decided to organize three floating prisons.

These molds are left by prisoners in hope not to return here any more.

The Holland law doesn't have an article according to which a prisoner can get an additional term for escape.

Prisoners are welcome to attend the school.

According to statistics, 94 people out of 100 000 were imprisoned in 2009-2010.

A prisoner can get 7 years instead of 5. Then, if he behaves in a good way, two thirds of the prison sentence will be cut. There is another principal: a thief can't be placed in the same space with a killer or a rapist.

A religious room.

Somebody has robbed the prison lately by stealing a TV set.

Holland prisons are filled by 86%. This is the lowest index in Europe.

A computer class.

Once a month prisoners can go home for a week. The complex will be closed in two years due to the low level of crime.