P. Timmer

Historisch-Geografisch Tijdschrift 20 (2002) 60 - 69.

Woonscholen in Nederland. De Ravelijn in Maastricht als laatste herinnering.

Veel steden in Nederland hadden in de eerste helft van de vorige eeuw te maken met grote sociaal-maatschappelijke problemen in achterstandswijken. De laag geschoolde bewoners werden veelal beschouwd als 'ontoelaatbaar', 'onmaatschappelijk' en 'asociaal', destijds veelvuldig gehanteerde begrippen. Stadsvernieuwingsprojecten werden uitgevoerd om de achterstandwijken leefbaar te maken en zodoende terug te geven aan de beschaafde samenleving. Naast stadsvernieuwing was er een ander aspect dat onderdeel uitmaakte van de aanpak van de problematiek, namelijk de heropvoeding van de 'asocialen' in de daarvoor opgezette woonscholen. Ingegaan wordt op de achtergronden van het woonschoolprincipe, op de woonscholen in Amsterdam, Den Haag en Utrecht, en op woonschool De Ravelijn te Maastricht en haar betekenis als laatst overgebleven gebouwencomplex van een woonschool in Nederland.

'Dwelling-schools' in the Netherlands 'De Ravelijn' in Maastricht as a last heritage.

In the first half of the 20th century, social downgrading was a big problem in many districts in the major Dutch cities. Besides urban renewal, a sociological solution was attempted. The most antisocial families were selected for re-education in a so-called 'woonschool' (dwelling-school) where they were stimulated 'to learn how to dwell'. Criteria for selection were alcohol abuse, child neglecting, extramarital relations, decline in church attendance, et cetera. During the 1920s Amsterdam ('Zeeburgerdorp' and 'Asterdorp'), Utrecht ('Houtplein') and The Hague ('Zomerhof') realised dwellingschools. Most of them were situated at remote areas near or in the city. Meanwhile new research gave the problem another perspective, a perspective which blamed abnormal behaviour due to a psychological nature. After World War II many cities proceeded to action again. 'De Ravelijn' in Maastricht (1955-1956) is the best example of a dwelling-school created with notice of the newest ideas about re-educating. Nevertheless the projects didn't succeed, the isolation had an opposite effect and didn't lead to social integration. The turning point came in the 1970s. Antisocial behaviour is to be seen as a result of the social structure of society. Instead of 'antisocial' the families are being called 'economical weak'. Most dwelling-schools had already been demolished. 'De Ravelijn' in Maastricht functioned, without success, until 1982. Nowadays its remaining buildings are the last relics of a dwelling-school in the Netherlands.