[1] The toponym means carrot or root in Dutch.

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.

[2] Along with the other colonies constructed by the Society of Benevolence, Wortel was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 as an excellent example of a unique method of housing reform and urban planning.

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