Cultural Heritage Policy

Heritage Agenda 2022–2026

The municipal executive adopted the 2022–2026 Heritage Agenda on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. The Heritage Agenda is the result of a comprehensive evaluation of the policy. Its aim is to strengthen, within the existing policy frameworks, the building blocks that have proven their value and to better harness the power of heritage through course corrections. We will continue our current approach and the implementation of our statutory duties, such as inspiring and encouraging owners and others to preserve, make heritage more sustainable, and repurpose heritage sites. In addition, we will establish links with other policy areas within the framework of the Environment Act.

Heritage Agenda 2022–2026

Vision for the Future of Religious Heritage

Churches have played an important role in our village for centuries. But times are changing, and the role of churches in villages is changing as well. 

Many places of worship are losing their purpose or functionality due to changes in the religious landscape and in society. Many church buildings are therefore undergoing a transition to ensure they remain viable for the future. This may involve taking on secondary functions alongside their religious use or adopting an entirely new function. The “Church Vision” is not a municipal vision, but the result of a dialogue with all stakeholders regarding the future of religious and cultural heritage, in which the owners of this heritage play a key role.

In “Keeping the Church at the Center,” the municipality sets forth its vision for a sustainable future for the religious heritage of our (municipal) community. This heritage is inextricably linked to the core values of our society and plays a key role in determining the quality of our living environment. That is why our religious heritage deserves a shared vision for the future. This vision outlines how the municipality intends to anticipate future challenges and how this vision will be embedded in policy.

Church Vision

Transcript of this video

Keeping the church at the center.

Working Together to Shape the Future of Voorschoten’s Religious Heritage.

Religious heritage encompasses everything associated with the history of a religious site. This includes the surrounding area—the cemetery, the fence, and the rectory—which we refer to as the “church biotope.” But it also includes the interior, such as the baptismal font or the pulpit, as well as the church’s collection—including paintings—and even the stories, archives, customs, and traditions that are all part of the religious heritage we wish to preserve.

A church building stands in the center of the village or is located in the heart of a neighborhood. Churches are social gathering places with great historical and emotional value. For centuries, churches have meant a great deal to our society.

Society is changing. Their role is changing, but the buildings retain their significance. Many people feel a connection to them. That is why we want to preserve these buildings for the future.

Working together to keep the church at the center means thinking about the future of church buildings. This is not just the responsibility of the church owner. We are all responsible for the future of this heritage.

If we are to work together toward the future, we need to consider uses that are appropriate for both the religious community and local residents—preferably ones that align with the social role that churches have always played. Or we could renovate them for an entirely new purpose, such as housing.

In doing so, we must take their historical significance into account and honor it. At the same time, church buildings must also be used in a sustainable manner. We will seek to strike a balance between preserving historical value and ensuring sustainable use.

Let’s work together toward a future in which historic church buildings remain at the heart of our society. Everyone involved is part of a heritage community. We exclude no one. We respect each other’s faith, each other’s roles, and everyone’s interests. We keep the church at the center.

Heritage Policy Framework 2013–2017

At its meeting on November 21, 2013, the Voorschoten City Council adopted the Response Memorandum, the 2013–2017 Heritage Framework Memorandum, and the 2013–2028 Cultural History Structural Vision.

The policy document sets out Voorschoten’s vision, in which the municipality states that it considers its cultural and historical qualities to be of vital importance to the municipality’s spatial and social identity and its distinctiveness. The foundation for the future is laid in the past.

The goal of heritage policy is to pass on cultural and historical heritage to future generations in good condition, in a careful and balanced manner, so that they, too, can build upon it for their future and continue to see, experience, and appreciate it. The Heritage Framework Memorandum outlines an implementation plan for achieving these objectives.

The evaluation *The Power of Heritage* (2021) states that the vision set forth in the Framework Memorandum remains fully in effect. Additional provisions can be found in the Heritage Agenda 2022–2026.

Heritage Policy Paper

Cultural History Strategic Plan 2013–2028

The Cultural History Structural Vision serves as a framework for evaluating policies and developments in the field of cultural history spatial planning. This vision aligns with the existing policies of the municipality and higher-level governments. It contributes to the general Heritage Vision, which aims to ensure that cultural heritage is managed in a careful and balanced manner. The Structural Vision describes a number of core cultural-historical qualities, which have been translated into a number of structures. These include water, green spaces, and built elements and structures, each accompanied by policy guidelines. These policy guidelines serve as the framework for the development and implementation of spatial plans within the municipality.

Cultural History Strategic Plan 2013–2028

Heritage Ordinance

The municipality of Voorschoten has an integrated heritage ordinance that governs all matters relating to cultural heritage. Since 2009, every municipality has been required to adopt an ordinance establishing a historic preservation committee that can fulfill the advisory obligation regarding environmental permits (Article 15 of the 1988 Historic Preservation Act). The heritage ordinance governs the designation and reclassification of historic monuments and developments within protected village landscapes. 

Heritage Ordinance

National Historic Landmarks

A national monument is a structure that is of general interest at the national level due to its beauty, scientific significance, and/or cultural-historical value. The goal is to preserve its monumental value. These may include buildings such as a village church, a windmill, or a memorial, but residential homes and archaeological sites may also be protected by the government.

The municipality of Voorschoten has 53 national monuments that are of national significance due to their age, architectural history, architecture, urban planning coherence, or rarity.

You can view a description of the national monuments on thewebsite of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands(RCE) at. You can search by address or by monument or complex number. These numbers can be found in the list of monuments above.

List of National Monuments in Voorschoten

Municipal Historic Landmarks

A municipality may decide to designate a building as a historic landmark. It does so by compiling its own list of historic landmarks. This is typically done when a building has no national significance but does have historical value from a local perspective. You can request the descriptions of these historic landmarks from the municipality of Voorschoten.

Municipal Historic Landmarks

Contact

Do you have any questions or comments? Please email us aterfgoed@voorschoten.nl.