Nederland - Barger-Compascuum, Veenpark

Veenpark is an open-air museum with an area of 160 hectares, which makes it one of the largest open-air museums in Europe. The museum was founded in 1966 under the name Nationaal Veenpark 't Aole Compas. That year the peat village Barger-Compascuum - adjacent to the museum - celebrated its centenary. On that occasion, some moor cottages were reconstructed and furnished. The first exhibition acted like a magnet and many old tools and equipment were donated to the museum. Thanks to the temporary support of the government, the number of houses could also be increased.

The museum offers two ‘villages’: an old colonist settlement 't Aole Compas with sod houses from around 1870 and the newer settlement Bargermond, where the period from 1920 to 1966 is shown. This village includes a church, cafe, school, windmill, bakery and a forge. Every day, the grocer, the peat cutter, the baker and the clog maker are at work here.

Further on the museum offers a permanent exposition and an open-air area with peat fields, which shows the history of peat extraction in different time periods.