Want to discover local traditions, customs, and festivities during your visit to a city, town, or region? To help you explore intangible cultural heritage throughout the year and on location, the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage (KIEN) introduces 'Spotting Intangible Heritage'. With signs featuring QR codes spread across the Netherlands, you can now uncover this living heritage and truly get to know the country and the people who bring it to life!
Why 'spot' intangible heritage?
When visiting a region, town, or city, you often want to learn more about local customs, traditions, and festivities. However, this intangible heritage isn’t always visible: sometimes it takes place at a specific moment, is seasonal, or happens behind closed doors. At KIEN, we aim to make intangible heritage more accessible so that you can experience the heritage that characterises a place and its community all year round, in every season, and right where it happens
How does Spotting Intangible Heritage work?
All you need is a smartphone with a camera and a keen eye for the red ‘Spotting Intangible Heritage’ signs with QR codes. Once you spot one, simply scan the QR code, and you’ll be automatically directed to a website with a video and more information about that heritage. This way, you can explore different forms of heritage across the Netherlands, meet the practitioners, and gain a deeper understanding of the environment in which this heritage comes to life.
Midwinterhoornblazen (Arno Wolsink)
How are Spotting Intangible Heritage-productions created?
At KIEN, co-creation is key. Communities listed on the Dutch Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage decide for themselves whether they wish to participate in the project. They shape their own 'Spotting Intangible Heritage' page: selecting photos, highlighting locations, and writing the texts. KIEN offers editorial support, as well as practical and financial assistance, to communities that want to create a production. All videos from participating heritage communities are available on the corresponding YouTube channel.
Are you excited and eager to participate in Spotting Intangible Heritage? Thanks to external funding from the Heersink Family Fund and the Province of Overijssel, heritage communities and practitioners can register their intangible heritage free of charge—and so can you! For more information, check out the information document 'Participating in Spotting Intangible Heritage' (in Dutch)' or contact our heritage care advisors directly at erfgoedzorg@immaterieelerfgoed.nl.
Overview of Intangible Heritage Spotting productions
Prefer not to leave it to chance and want to know where you can spot specific intangible heritage right now? You can find signs with QR codes at the following locations:
