Themes
In 1992 the Dutch Lower House ratified the ‘Convention concerning the protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage’ (in short: World Heritage Convention). The first Tentative List was drawn up in 1994. It was dedicated entirely to archaeological heritage. A Tentative List of structural heritage followed in 1995. Together they form the Netherlands Tentative List of Cultural World Heritage. To date there is no Tentative List of Natural World Heritage in the Netherlands and consequently no nomination has been submitted.
The Netherlands Tentative List and therefore also the nominations for the World Heritage List focus on the themes ‘The Netherlands – Land of Water’, the ‘Republic in the 17th century’, the ‘Dutch contribution to the Modern Movement in international architecture at the beginning of the 20th century (Modern Movement)’ and ‘Archaeology’. Some themes are also combined.
In the ‘The Netherlands – Land of Water’ theme polders, land reclamations and drainage systems play an important role. The ‘Republic in the 17th century’ theme focuses on town and country planning and land-use during the Netherlands' Golden Age. The ‘Modern Movement’ is an architectural movement of the 1920s and 1930s with important contributions by many Dutch architects. The ‘Archaeology’ theme can encompass all (underground) traces of people in the Netherlands, from the prehistoric times to well into the 19th and even 20th centuries.
The first site in the Netherlands to be designated a World Heritage Site was Schokland, the former island in the Zuyder Zee that was incorporated into the Noordoostpolder in 1940/1942. (At the time the Noordoostpolder belonged to the province of Overijssel, now it is part of the province of Flevoland). In 1995 Schokland was placed on the World Heritage List because of its archaeological significance in combination with its struggle against the sea. This inscription was followed by five other sites within the boundaries of the Netherlands and one overseas within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Four of the five sites in the Netherlands relate to the ‘The Netherlands – Land of Water’ theme, one of which (the Beemster polder) in combination with the ‘Republic in the 17th century’ theme. To date, only one site is related to the ‘Modern Movement’ theme.
The Netherlands Tentative List and therefore also the nominations for the World Heritage List focus on the themes ‘The Netherlands – Land of Water’, the ‘Republic in the 17th century’, the ‘Dutch contribution to the Modern Movement in international architecture at the beginning of the 20th century (Modern Movement)’ and ‘Archaeology’. Some themes are also combined.
In the ‘The Netherlands – Land of Water’ theme polders, land reclamations and drainage systems play an important role. The ‘Republic in the 17th century’ theme focuses on town and country planning and land-use during the Netherlands' Golden Age. The ‘Modern Movement’ is an architectural movement of the 1920s and 1930s with important contributions by many Dutch architects. The ‘Archaeology’ theme can encompass all (underground) traces of people in the Netherlands, from the prehistoric times to well into the 19th and even 20th centuries.
The first site in the Netherlands to be designated a World Heritage Site was Schokland, the former island in the Zuyder Zee that was incorporated into the Noordoostpolder in 1940/1942. (At the time the Noordoostpolder belonged to the province of Overijssel, now it is part of the province of Flevoland). In 1995 Schokland was placed on the World Heritage List because of its archaeological significance in combination with its struggle against the sea. This inscription was followed by five other sites within the boundaries of the Netherlands and one overseas within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Four of the five sites in the Netherlands relate to the ‘The Netherlands – Land of Water’ theme, one of which (the Beemster polder) in combination with the ‘Republic in the 17th century’ theme. To date, only one site is related to the ‘Modern Movement’ theme.