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Heritage value

The cultural history of the Netherlands is visible in the buildings and building patterns of towns, cities, villages and country estates. Valuable examples of these heritage elements occur throughout the country.

Current situation


The heritage value of a landscape is determined on the basis of the presence of valuable and protected urban and rural views and of the most important country estates and country houses. There are regional differences in building style and building materials. These characteristic elements can be found in landscapes throughout the country, but are concentrated on the landward edge of the dunes, along the river Vecht, on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, and in south Limburg.

Technical note


The areas deemed to have great heritage value have been taken from the Dutch government's Belvedere Memorandum on cultural heritage and physical planning (Nota Belvedere). The map is based on data from the Netherlands Department for Conservation (RDMZ) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. It shows the approximately 470 urban and village views that are protected or scheduled for protection, and also the most important country estates and country houses. The urban and village views are taken from the 1961-1987 indicative programme and the ongoing (since 1995) indicative programme of the Monument Selection Project. Both programmes were created primarily to identify valuable heritage features. Individual buildings and structures have not been included, as 60-70% lie within designated protected views. The selection of country estates and country houses is from a policy agreement between two ministries (Education, Culture and Science/Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality). Protected views are depicted as a point surrounded by a circle with a radius of 1 km; ditto country estates and country houses.

References


  • OC&W (1999). Nota Belvedere: Beleidsnota over de relatie cultuurhistorie en ruimtelijke inrichting. Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschappen. Den Haag.
This page was last changed on 31 March 2004  (version 01).