Penitentiaire Inrichting Vught, high-security prison in Vught, Netherlands
Penitentiaire Inrichting Vught is a prison complex in the town of Vught, Netherlands, covering approximately 30 hectares with distinct sections for different types of detainees. The facility includes a holding unit, a regular prison wing, a terrorism section, a maximum-security unit for high-risk inmates, and a psychiatric center providing specialized care for those with mental health conditions.
The site served as a German concentration camp called Kamp Vught during World War II and was converted into a prison for political detainees after the war. In the 1950s a wing for young long-term prisoners was established, followed by the addition of specialized units for psychiatric patients in the late 1990s and a terrorism section in the 1990s to handle high-security cases.
Visitors must arrange visits in advance through the detainee's contact person, with calls accepted at least seven days before and up to two days before the visit. Up to three adults and one child under twelve are permitted per visit, all must be registered on the visitor list, and all are subject to security screening at the entrance.
The complex is located next to the National Monument Kamp Vught and near a recreational lake called De IJzeren Man. This proximity to a war memorial creates a unique setting where wartime history and modern criminal justice coexist on the same site, making it a significant testament to Netherlands' recent past.
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