State, provinces and municipalities make new agreements on heritage care

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The Netherlands is rich in heritage. From the Rotterdam summer carnival to Slot Loevestein, from the scenic landscape in the Achterhoek to the shipwrecks in the Wadden Sea. Municipalities, provinces and the State have made new administrative agreements to cooperate better in the field of heritage. With these agreements, the governments want to strengthen the basis of heritage policy in order to respond well to new spatial and societal challenges.

Heritage gives meaning to our living environment, strengthens communities and contributes to the quality of town and country. It therefore deserves careful protection, and that is only possible if governments act together.

Strengthening heritage policy

The cultural heritage administrative agreements, signed by the minister of OCW, the Interprovincial Consultation Committee (IPO) and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), ensure a good connection between national regulations and programmes and the work of municipalities and provinces. The new cooperation agreements build on previous policies and tighten them where necessary.

Minister Rianne Letschert (OCW): “Heritage connects people and reminds us of who we are and where we come from. This is precisely why it is of great importance that municipalities, provinces and the state act together in this. Only through this shared responsibility can we keep our heritage alive and pass it on to future generations.”

Delegate Meindert Stolk, portfolio holder Heritage IPO: ,,Only by acting together can we protect our cultural heritage while preparing it for the future. This includes a modern view of heritage policy: it is not something in itself, but is linked to other social tasks, such as housing, liveability, sustainability and spatial development. This is how we ensure that heritage remains valuable, now and later.”

Councillor Natasja Groothuismink on behalf of the VNG: ,”'Municipalities are often the first point of contact when it comes to heritage, and we are now participating in the administrative agreements for the first time. This new step further strengthens cooperation between municipalities, provinces and the state. Together, we will thus lay a solid policy foundation and ensure sustainable protection of our heritage."

Societal challenges

The previous administrative agreements on heritage date from 2015 and were only concluded between the provinces and the state. A lot has changed since then. Spatial transitions, major restoration projects, the preservation of monuments and a shortage of capacity and expertise among municipalities and provinces call for a joint approach. High time, therefore, for new agreements and this time with municipalities at the table.

The new agreements cover four themes: dealing with heritage in the major spatial transitions in the Netherlands, the preservation of monuments, strengthening knowledge and capacity at municipalities and provinces, and the proper functioning of the archaeology system. Among other things, municipalities, provinces and central government are setting up the joint Heritage and Government programme. The governments are also better coordinating their regulations for the preservation of monuments.