The Dutch role in the presentation of climate change and human response

SIGRID M. VAN ROODE
Past2Present/the ReCollective, The Netherlands

The Netherlands, as one of the lowest countries of Europe, have a long history of research in climate change and the management of climatic effects on land. The Dutch have built dikes and fought against the rise of water levels since a very early date. Even now, the research on water level rise and detrimental effects on archaeology is part of our scientific research programs, resulting for example in standards for preserving archaeological remains in situ. Not only in the past century, but also in the Middle Ages and before did people in the Netherlands act to control environmental change and climate. Archaeologists have uncovered much information on the subject although unfortunately it is hardly ever a leading element of museological display. The topic is only selectively displayed in presentations of our more recent history. The concept of landscape and climate change may be a way to combine more socio-political relevant topics and archaeology. It is exactly this combination of factors that the ReCollective as a private company in heritage inspiration aims to stimulate. We may even try and incorporate climate change as a research topic in policy development for regional research agendas that are being made.

Apart from water management, another famous Dutch characteristic is architecture and urban design. It is there and in spatial design that the combination with display of climate response to the public ís found. Even though climate response has rarely been selected as a topic for museological display, there have been private developers that have in some instances used this topic as thematic approach for modern architectural development. In Vlaardingen for instance it was used as an inspiration for architects. In project Holy, the problem of water management through the ages has been pivotal for the new design, which coincided with archaeological friendly building measures, like raising the water table in order to conserve archaeological remains. In that manner, the project developers and architects are claiming a role in the combination of contemporary issues and display of archaeological research.