EN Industrial and Engineering Heritage Committee met in the Netherlands

Europa Nostra’s Industrial and Engineering Heritage Committee (IEHC) gathered in Zaandam, the Netherlands, from 7 to 10 November. It was the 10th time that the IEHC met since its creation in October 2008. During this gathering, which was hosted by Hildebrand de Boer, the members discussed the relevant issues related to the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Award as well as to endangered industrial heritage.

The meeting, which was attended by 7 out of its 10 members, took place at the Hembrugterrein, a former industrial estate near Zaandam now under redevelopment.

“Two applications for the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Award 2014 from Athens were expected, the Lavrion mines and the Gazi-works, but only the second one was submitted”, noted the committee. As for ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ programme, the committee showed their willingness to contribute its expertise and get more closely involved in the selection process of the sites.

IEHC Chairman Pierre Laconte, together with the IEHC member Francesco Calzolaio, recently visited Venice and met several stakeholders. The future of Venice’s world-famous Arsenale stays rather unclear. In spite of that Francesco Calzolaio will continue to report back on any future developments on this matter.

Members were also briefed on the industrial heritage excursion that the IEHC usually organises during the Europa Nostra’s Annual Congresses. Arthur Spiegler, Vice-president of the European Council for the Village and Small Town (ECOVAST) and former Board member of the Vienna Water Works, is helping on the organisation of the next excursion to take place in Vienna in May 2014.

The main topics for the working visits and excursions that followed the IEHC meeting were the ‘HollandRoute Touristic Network’ and ‘’Water Management & Infrastructure’. The stated philosophy of the HollandRoute is to open up heritage sites to trade, productivity, engineering, industry, water control and infrastructure in the Metropolitian Region of Amsterdam. The diverse program featured not only “traditional” industrial heritage sites and projects – such as a vintage railway line or a steam engine museum – but also 19th century and recently-restored factories with state-of-the-art production lines.

The fact that almost all sites visited are members of the HollandRoute – of which Foundation Hildebrand de Boer is Managing Director – has greatly contributed to the success of the working visit and excursion program, which featured the New Hembrug, Zaandam; the Rice Peeling Factory Lassie, Wormer; the former Soap Factory De Adelaar; the Museum Steam Tram Hoorn-Medemblik; the Dutch Steam Engine Museum, Medemblik; the Water-pump Windmill, Schermerhoorn; and the Gassan Diamond Factory, Amsterdam.

The next IEHC meeting will take place in March 2014 in Barcelona and will be hosted by the IEHC member Eusebi Casanelles.