Archaeological heritage management in the Netherlands

The first part of this chapter deals with the legal background of heritage management and conflict archaeology in the Netherlands, connecting research with policy, development and the public. When valuing archaeological monuments, meaning is implicitly given to those features and artefacts. Although the Dutch regulations are outlined here, the central focus of this chapter is the valuation of sites of modern conflict. How are these sites represented? How are they valued? Can they be used as a point of reference for other countries? Archaeological heritage management in the Netherlands is concerned with the identification, protection, management and preservation of features and artefacts of human activity, ranging from prehistory to modern times. As discussed, heritage is closely tied with the values and identities of contemporary society and local communities. Heritage is never an objective historical given, and both memories and constructed histories need to be understood within the context of the present. Heritage is to be regarded as a subjective perception of the past. People give meaning to places in the landscape (for example, a tree, a house or a monument), which anchor them to their living environment, and which were and are of key importance for the identity of a local community. Landscapes provide a vital link to the past and stimulate the consciousness of historical events.