City Presents Vision Document on the Future of Religious Heritage
Preserving Voorschoten’s religious heritage and fostering initiative and collaboration. That is the focus of the Voorschoten municipality’s vision document, “Keeping the Church at the Center.” In this way, churches and religious buildings will continue to play a unifying role in society in the future.
In this vision statement, the municipality outlines current issues related to religious heritage and identifies what is needed now and in the future. “The Church at the Center” describes how the municipality is addressing issues related to religious heritage in a sustainable manner. For example, how do we repurpose church buildings—perhaps as cultural centers? How do we preserve the traditional social role of churches? And how do we preserve and protect the surroundings of churches, such as parsonages and cemeteries?
Shared Care
“The Municipality of Voorschoten cherishes the village’s religious heritage,” says Alderman Hans van der Elst. “For centuries, churches have often served as beacons and landmarks in our communities. We would like to preserve that. In our vision statement, we have laid out guiding principles on how we can work together toward a sustainable future—not only for the church buildings themselves, but also for the associated cultural heritage, such as collections and interiors. This document was drafted with an eye toward the various roles and interests of all stakeholders. It provides a solid foundation for our future joint stewardship of this unique heritage.”
More information
The vision statement “Keeping the Church at the Center” was drafted in collaboration with local stakeholders, such as faith communities, church owners, and (historical) associations. The document is available at www.voorschoten.nl/beleid-cultureel-erfgoed. There you will also find an animation with further explanation.