Artikelen

• Een KB kan worden ingetrokken

  Until recently, by Royal Decree (KB) of 7 July 1903, work still proceeded on the ‘Geïllustreerde Beschrijving van de Nederlandse Monumenten van Geschiedenis en Kunst’. Thus the governmental committee defined the instruction to draw up and publish an inventory and a description of Dutch monuments and historic buildings; teams of public servants only sparsely carried out this instruction.

  This earliest descriptive task was aimed at distinguishing values that were of such general interest that they deserved the protection of the national government. At the time the struggle for the survival of monuments and  historic buildings primarily depended on spreading knowledge about them.

  Although through the years the preservation of monuments and  historic buildings continued to exist for the purpose of material continuity, the core of it shifted because of the search for cultural arguments. An important and more recent factor is the spatial context. Not only the historic building as such but also the organisation around it changed.

  Since 1 November 2006 there is a new organisation, the ‘Rijksdienst voor Archeologie, Cultuurlandschap en Monumenten’ (RACM), through which a domain-oriented connection has been made between archaeology, cultural landscape and historic buildings. In this same year the description of the Dutch monuments and historic buildings was completed thanks to a wider, concise inventory per province in the series ‘Monumenten in Nederland’, written by external specialists under the authority of the (former) ‘Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg’ (RDMZ). The publication of the volume on the youngest province Flevoland forms the final piece and at the same time marks the turning-point in the changes in the existing order.

  Until recently, by Royal Decree (KB) of 7 July 1903, work still proceeded on the ‘Geïllustreerde Beschrijving van de Nederlandse Monumenten van Geschiedenis en Kunst’. Thus the governmental committee defined the instruction to draw up and publish an inventory and a description of Dutch monuments and historic buildings; teams of public servants only sparsely carried out this instruction.

  This earliest descriptive task was aimed at distinguishing values that were of such general interest that they deserved the protection of the national government. At the time the struggle for the survival of monuments and  historic buildings primarily depended on spreading knowledge about them.

  Although through the years the preservation of monuments and  historic buildings continued to exist for the purpose of material continuity, the core of it shifted because of the search for cultural arguments. An important and more recent factor is the spatial context....

  Until recently, by Royal Decree (KB) of 7 July 1903, work still proceeded on the ‘Geïllustreerde Beschrijving van de Nederlandse Monumenten van Geschiedenis en Kunst’. Thus the governmental committee defined the instruction to draw up and publish an inventory and a description of...

  Fons Asselbergs

  201-202

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• Naar een cultuurtopografie: ‘Monumenten in Nederland’, de serie

  With the publication of the twelfth and last part in July 2006 the series ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ was completed after more than ten years. For the first time in a long while a general survey has thus become available covering the entire Netherlands, presenting a coherent overview of the cultural-historically most valuable structures and objects. Although it comprises fewer volumes, but is of a larger format and contains more illustrations, the series can measure up to ‘The Buildings of England’ of Nicolaus Pevsner, published between 1951 and 1974.

  In ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ not only protected, but also - if interesting - not (yet) protected buildings are dealt with, not just as such, but also in their historical, architectonic, and building-historical context. As regards the national coverage a great extent of balance was aimed at in the series, so that not only the most important but, on the contrary, all the relevant buildings in every corner of the country are brought up. Thus it has become a Cultural Topography.

  In the relatively short - by standards of  historic building surveys period of ten years it proved to be possible to look at the entire stock of historic buildings with a coherent vision as regards contents. Consequently, the major historical parameters: place, periodization, style and type have been systematically and consistently dealt with in the whole series. Within the framework of a growing building-historical insight compared to the existing literature some slight corrections were occasionally made. Likewise, materials and constructions were dealt with better.

  Besides, ample attention has been paid to cultural connections, both of church and parsonage, factory and porter's house, but also in a wider context, such as the branching off from a town hall into law, records and police functions, each in a separate building. Behind spatial developments there often are energetic persons who erected country estates, factory complexes or areas under development with the accompanying buildings. This aspect also received much attention. Due to the consistency in concise description referred to, it became possible to develop a relative cultural measure reflecting a relative order of merit of cultural-historically important towns and villages better than just on the basis of a number of protected monuments.

  In recent preservation of monuments and historic buildings attention shifted from the object towards the spatial development. In the meantime this balance threatens to tip towards an excess of cultural planology, whereby not just the individual building but also the historical aspect is somewhat lost sight of. With a profound attention for the spatial aspects ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ has focused on the large group of cultural-historically important buildings and objects again and thus it is a 'benchmark' of monuments and historic buildings in the Netherlands on the transition from the 20th to the 21st century.

  With the publication of the twelfth and last part in July 2006 the series ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ was completed after more than ten years. For the first time in a long while a general survey has thus become available covering the entire Netherlands, presenting a coherent overview of the cultural-historically most valuable structures and objects. Although it comprises fewer volumes, but is of a larger format and contains more illustrations, the series can measure up to ‘The Buildings of England’ of Nicolaus Pevsner, published between 1951 and 1974.

  In ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ not only protected, but also - if interesting - not (yet) protected buildings are dealt with, not just as such, but also in their historical, architectonic, and building-historical context. As regards the national coverage a great extent of balance was aimed at in the series, so that not only the most important but, on the contrary, all the relevant buildings in every corner of the...

  With the publication of the twelfth and last part in July 2006 the series ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ was completed after more than ten years. For the first time in a long while a general survey has thus become available covering the entire Netherlands, presenting a coherent overview of the...

  Ronald Stenvert

  203-218

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• ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ en de Rijksdienst. Monumentenbeschrijving nu en straks

  The preservation of the built architectural heritage is inextricably bound up with an accurate description of that heritage. This insight is universal and internationally undisputed and has been the foundation of the description of monuments and historic buildings in the Netherlands since the second half of the nineteenth century.

  In this article the description of such historic buildings by the government is under discussion because of various current social changes, four of which are further clarified. Firstly, under political pressure the national government is shrinking, while from the ministries the guiding relation of the executive government departments, such as the RACM (RCE), is directed at privatisation.

  Secondly, under the influence of ICT developments the patterns of information consumption within the discipline of preservation of architectural heritage and within society in general are changing, which affects processes of exchange of knowledge as well as the nature of the description of monuments and historic buildings.

  Thirdly, the discipline of the built architectural heritage is characterized by increasing professionalization and specialization, whereas in the execution integration of the various aspects (preservation of monuments and  historic buildings, archaeology, historical geography, historical urban planning, landscape history etc.) is aimed at.

  And finally, these past years interest in the historical environment and the historical narrative has increased tremendously, with the result that not just the heritage industry (cultural tourism, events in a heritage setting) is flourishing, but web pages with historical information and descriptions of historic buildings are also visited on a massive scale. Together these developments demand a fundamental discussion on a renewed interpretation of the above-mentioned descriptive task of the government.

  The preservation of the built architectural heritage is inextricably bound up with an accurate description of that heritage. This insight is universal and internationally undisputed and has been the foundation of the description of monuments and historic buildings in the Netherlands since the second half of the nineteenth century.

  In this article the description of such historic buildings by the government is under discussion because of various current social changes, four of which are further clarified. Firstly, under political pressure the national government is shrinking, while from the ministries the guiding relation of the executive government departments, such as the RACM (RCE), is directed at privatisation.

  Secondly, under the influence of ICT developments the patterns of information consumption within the discipline of preservation of architectural heritage and within society in general are changing, which affects processes of exchange of knowledge as well...

  The preservation of the built architectural heritage is inextricably bound up with an accurate description of that heritage. This insight is universal and internationally undisputed and has been the foundation of the description of monuments and historic buildings in the Netherlands since the...

  Erik Kleijn

  219-222

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• Monumenten, geschiedenis en zorg

  This contribution is an adaptation of the theme of Monuments and historic Buildings in the Netherlands and their architectural history, which forms part of the KNOB workshop in Zeist. This series fits in with the tradition of art-topographical works of Dehio and Pevsner.

  For a long time architectural-historical research was directly linked up with the national preservation of monuments and historic buildings. It is ironical that a selective survey of the built and still existing stock of  historic buildings in the Netherlands has now been published, for recent research at the art-historical institutes, faculties of architecture and the Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI) is moving farther and farther away from the description of the concrete objects.

  Under the title of 'style and appearance' the traditional art-historical framework appears to be applied in the series, such as ‘Bouwstijlen in Nederland’. What is new here is the attention paid to 'Material and Construction' in a separate chapter, from which the influence of building historians (among the authors) is evident.

  Nevertheless we should also place the series in the tradition of 'art guidebooks'. A great deal has changed between the period of 'elite tourism' and present mass tourism. The new government department RACM (RCE) will not escape the tourist gaze that politics may increasingly impose as core business. Escape from this situation might be found by objects that arouse strong emotions, subject to the position of the viewer. This example is further worked out on the basis of the comparison between two 'monuments' in commemoration of slavery in the state of Georgia in the US.

  This contribution is an adaptation of the theme of Monuments and historic Buildings in the Netherlands and their architectural history, which forms part of the KNOB workshop in Zeist. This series fits in with the tradition of art-topographical works of Dehio and Pevsner.

  For a long time architectural-historical research was directly linked up with the national preservation of monuments and historic buildings. It is ironical that a selective survey of the built and still existing stock of  historic buildings in the Netherlands has now been published, for recent research at the art-historical institutes, faculties of architecture and the Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI) is moving farther and farther away from the description of the concrete objects.

  Under the title of 'style and appearance' the traditional art-historical framework appears to be applied in the series, such as ‘Bouwstijlen in Nederland’. What is new here is the attention paid...

  This contribution is an adaptation of the theme of Monuments and historic Buildings in the Netherlands and their architectural history, which forms part of the KNOB workshop in Zeist. This series fits in with the tradition of art-topographical works of Dehio and Pevsner.

  For a long...

  Rob Dettingmeijer

  223-228

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• Architectuur- en bouwhistorisch onderzoek ten behoeve van monumentenzorg

  Architectural-historical research only contributes to a limited extent to the solution of practical problems during restorations. Preliminary thorough building-historical research is not always a matter of course. Moreover, the subject of history of building construction is lagging behind in comparison with the countries around us.

  In the Netherlands applied research of historic buildings particularly proceeds from the (governmental and municipal) departments of preservation of monuments and historic buildings and from private initiative. Hardly any building-historical research is taking place within the walls of the Dutch universities, no matter whether it concerns the technical sciences or the humanities. A building-historical research programme is completely non-existent, and so is adequate scientific support. As long as traditional architectural history is not aware of the importance of a material and constructive approach to a building, the gap between theory and practice will continue to exist.

  More interdisciplinary cooperation between building- and architectural history could change this situation. The fact that the postgraduate higher vocational education Building History and Restoration in Utrecht - for which those interested pay many thousands of euros out of their own pockets - and also that the internationally highly renowned postgraduate education Preservation of Monuments and historic Buildings at the Raymond Le Maire centre in Leuven can count on considerable interest, proves that there is a demand for it.

  Architectural-historical research only contributes to a limited extent to the solution of practical problems during restorations. Preliminary thorough building-historical research is not always a matter of course. Moreover, the subject of history of building construction is lagging behind in comparison with the countries around us.

  In the Netherlands applied research of historic buildings particularly proceeds from the (governmental and municipal) departments of preservation of monuments and historic buildings and from private initiative. Hardly any building-historical research is taking place within the walls of the Dutch universities, no matter whether it concerns the technical sciences or the humanities. A building-historical research programme is completely non-existent, and so is adequate scientific support. As long as traditional architectural history is not aware of the importance of a material and constructive approach to a building, the gap between theory and...

  Architectural-historical research only contributes to a limited extent to the solution of practical problems during restorations. Preliminary thorough building-historical research is not always a matter of course. Moreover, the subject of history of building construction is lagging behind in...

  Gabri van Tussenbroek

  229-234

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• ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ en de historische geografie

  The series ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ presents a splendid survey of the monumental buildings in the Netherlands. In the study - though not in the field yet - the series has taken the place of the time-honoured ‘Kunstreisboek’ (art guidebook). Compared to previous editions the latest edition of the ‘Kunstreisboek’ already paid more attention to the structure of villages and towns and thus to the context of the historic buildings. However, on this point there is still something to be desired. This contribution looks at the new series of books from a historical-geographical perspective and, more in general, at historic buildings and policy in connection with them in the Netherlands.

  In three ways a more geographical approach to the preservation of monuments and historic buildings would lead to changes in research and policy. In the first place, interest would shift from the most prominent historic buildings to the more representative bulk. Secondly, a geographical line of approach may offer new insights into the regional diversity of developments in building. Thirdly, geographical models for the development of historical towns and rural landscapes could be a means to predict historical values yet to be discovered.

  The series ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ presents a splendid survey of the monumental buildings in the Netherlands. In the study - though not in the field yet - the series has taken the place of the time-honoured ‘Kunstreisboek’ (art guidebook). Compared to previous editions the latest edition of the ‘Kunstreisboek’ already paid more attention to the structure of villages and towns and thus to the context of the historic buildings. However, on this point there is still something to be desired. This contribution looks at the new series of books from a historical-geographical perspective and, more in general, at historic buildings and policy in connection with them in the Netherlands.

  In three ways a more geographical approach to the preservation of monuments and historic buildings would lead to changes in research and policy. In the first place, interest would shift from the most prominent historic buildings to the more representative bulk. Secondly, a geographical...

  The series ‘Monumenten in Nederland’ presents a splendid survey of the monumental buildings in the Netherlands. In the study - though not in the field yet - the series has taken the place of the time-honoured ‘Kunstreisboek’ (art guidebook). Compared to previous editions the latest...

  Hans Renes

  235-245

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