What does UNESCO World Heritage status mean for the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, when considering the space needed for the tasks in the National Environmental Vision (NOVI)? This question was the starting point for the impact analysis we conducted on the defense line, which is the largest national monument in the Netherlands and one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in our country. It was prompted by the government's desire to nominate the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
To determine the impact, we first looked at the current protection of the line from development that detracts from its heritage value. This will not change with World Heritage status, although current policies are expected to be more compliant. We then examined the extent to which possible world heritage status would have an impact on the NOVI issues and what this would mean for the action perspective.
The outcome of the study was that the impact of world heritage status would be manageable, or neutral, or stimulating. In particular, tasks such as energy transition and urbanization require extra effort. For other tasks, however, the status will provide added value or an extra impulse; in particular, this applies to an attractive and healthy living environment and the strengthening of a business climate.
Together with advice from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), this analysis was reason to continue the application for world heritage status. This was honored in July 2021 and thus the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie - with a length of 85 kilometers and including 45 forts, 2 castles, 85 machine gun casemates, numerous concrete shelters and over 100 military locks and waterworks - together with the Stelling van Amsterdam now form the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'The Waterlinies'.
1/2
1/4
