The transformation or disappearance of religious buildings often evokes strong emotions because these places are deeply intertwined with communities over generations. These buildings are often iconic and carry centuries of history. To anticipate uncertain futures for these buildings, several municipalities in South Holland are implementing 'church visions'. Such a vision is a strategic policy instrument that allows governments and stakeholders to contemplate the future of places of worship, including the intangible heritage such as festivities, rituals, and social practices that take place there.
In the guide 'Het borgen van immaterieel erfgoed in de kerkenvisie (in English: 'Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Church Visions'), Floor Vierenhalm (Erfgoed Zuid-Holland) focuses not only on the physical buildings but also on preserving and documenting intangible values, essential for communities to maintain and pass on to future generations. Susanne Bergwerff-Verburg, scientific staff member at KIEN, contributed thoughts and background work to this publication.
Do note that this publication is written in Dutch. You can access the publication by clicking on the image below
