THE NETHERLANDS – Can designation as monument be harmful?

The Dutch organisation Kerkelijk Waardebeheer has launched a plea to the government under the slogan: “it takes two to tango”, asking for a better cooperation between churches and government, especially regarding the government’s heritage policy.

(Local) governments have designated about 60% of church buildings in the Netherlands as monuments. While this status limits the liberties that the building’s owner – usually the parish – have, it does not usually mean any financial aid from the part of the authorities. Churches spend an estimated 40% of funds on the maintenance of their buildings; as congregations and income continue to shrink, this will become increasingly untenable. Moreover, the status of monument makes it harder to find alternative uses for a church once it is desecrated.

Read the whole article in Dutch here.