Municipality Releases Heritage Agenda for 2022–2026

“Heritage is alive, rewarding, inspiring, and unifying”

The municipality aims to preserve Voorschoten’s cultural heritage and encourage initiative and collaboration. This is outlined in the 2022–2026 heritage agenda, “Heritage Lives, Pays Off, Inspires, and Connects,” which the municipality has published. Together with residents and organizations, the municipality aims to better link heritage to social challenges such as volunteer work, sustainability, education, the circular economy, recreation and tourism, and landscape conservation.

Voorschoten has more than 200 historic monuments, protected urban and rural landscapes, and scenic areas. A recent evaluation has shown that the existing policy has proven its worth in the form of advisory services, the formal protection of historic monuments, subsidies, and oversight and enforcement. 
“To preserve and further develop this heritage—which is part of Voorschoten’s DNA—for the future, there are opportunities in the implementation of the policy to forge stronger links with societal challenges and initiatives in the areas of volunteer work, sustainability, the circular economy, recreation and tourism, and landscape conservation. Huize Bijdorp and Duivenvoorde Castle are excellent examples of this,” saidAlderman Marcel Cramwinckel.

Collaboration

The Local Heritage Platform (LEP), the Committee for Aesthetics and Cultural Heritage, and major monument owners (Berbice, Duivenvoorde, Bijdorp) are involved in the heritage agenda. The Economic Platform, the Social Domain Advisory Council, and the Cultuurfabriek have been consulted. Together with organizations, residents, and other local governments, the municipal executive aims to implement and further develop projects such as the tow canal, Limes, and the Leiden outskirts. Joint funding is being used to support projects such as the renovation of the Frederiksroute.

Church Vision

Religious heritage is also part of Voorschoten’s identity. It is important to establish guidelines on how these unique buildings and their interiors can be preserved for the future. Through a Church Vision plan, the municipality is outlining the current situation and identifying what is needed. Together with religious communities, property owners, and other stakeholders not directly involved (such as neighborhood associations and heritage organizations), the municipality aims to develop a vision for the future of Voorschoten’s religious heritage as a whole.
The Church Vision and the Heritage Agenda can be found on the municipal website: Cultural Heritage Policy | Voorschoten.

In closing: the Canon of Voorschoten

There’s good news for anyone interested in the cultural heritage and history of Voorschoten. The Voorschoten Canon has been online since this fall! The Voorschoten Canon tells the story of Voorschoten’s history, from prehistory to the present. The initiative for this project was launched in 2016 by the Local Heritage Platform (LEP). The authors and advisors—all residents of Voorschoten with extensive knowledge of local history—have written the story of Voorschoten in a clear and engaging way. The Canon can be found at: Canon of Voorschoten.