Sustainable Heritage
The municipality follows the guidelines of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands for making historic buildings more sustainable. You can find the guidelines for solar panels and collectors at the bottom of the page. For other matters, please visit the RCE website. If you have any questions, please contact the cultural heritage policy advisor via the general phone number or at erfgoed@voorschoten.nl.
Landmarks and other distinctive historic buildings are, by their very nature, sustainable. They are often centuries old and do not (any longer) pollute the environment due to their highly efficient use of materials. The preservation of landmarks is also sustainable: preserving historic materials, techniques, and details always takes precedence over renovation. Whenever possible, local, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly products are used.
Nevertheless, there are ways to make historic buildings even more sustainable. To help residents explore these options, the municipality has made the Voorschoten Green Menu available.
Voorschoten Green Menu
There are many ways to make a historic building more sustainable. There may be more options than you realize. The municipality has entered into a partnership with the De Groene Grachten Foundation. This was originally an initiative launched by Wubbo Ockels to make Amsterdam’s historic canal belt more sustainable. The specially developed “Green Menu” is now also available and tailored to Voorschoten.
TheVoorschoten Green Menu uses various themes to show you the options, tips, and tricks available for making historic buildings more sustainable. A customized approach is always key, especially when it comes to protected monuments. Use the Green Menu to put together a wish list. Then make an appointment with the municipality to learn more about the possibilities, permits, financial support, and so on.
The Voorschoten Green Menu is part of the heritage policy but is also aligned with the municipality’s 2012–2016 Environmental Policy Plan. The municipality aims to reduce its own CO2 emissions and encourage the community to contribute to energy conservation and the generation of renewable energy. In addition to the Green Menu for historic buildings, owners of other residential homes can use theenergy help desk at.