Museumkerk Schokland in de sneeuw
Sjors Evers

UNESCO World Heritage

The former island of Schokland and surroundings tell a story of 10,000 years of living with water in the Netherlands. The soil contains many archaeological treasures, making World Heritage site Schokland home to the longest history of settlement in the Netherlands. Schokland and its surroundings have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1995.

UNESCO World Heritage 

UNESCO World Heritage is unique. It consists of the most remarkable and significant buildings, areas, and nature in the world. In 1972, the World Heritage Convention was established by UNESCO, the organization of the United Nations for education, culture, and science. Only UNESCO can grant the World Heritage status. Currently, there are about twelve hundred World Heritage sites on the World Heritage List. These must be preserved and passed on to future generations. 

Thirteen times unique 

Thirteen of these unique locations are located in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, ranging from architecture to nature and from archaeology and military heritage to special landscapes. These include: the Beemster Polder, Eise Eisinga Planetarium, the Amsterdam Canal Ring, Dutch Water Lines, Ir. D.F. Woudagemaal, Colonies of Benevolence, the Windmill Complex of Kinderdijk-Elshout, the Lower German Limes, the Rietveld Schröder House, Schokland and its surroundings, Van Nelle Factory, the Wadden Sea, and Willemstad, Curaçao. In all their diversity, they provide impressive stories that resonate with both young and old. Thus, World Heritage remains vibrant, and people worldwide learn to appreciate each other's culture and nature. This stimulates curiosity and contributes to mutual respect. 

World Heritage as part of UNESCO 

UNESCO World Heritage is the most well-known part of UNESCO. However, the organization does much more than heritage protection. UNESCO is also the education and science agency of the United Nations. Additionally, media is an important area of focus, including press freedom. Thus, UNESCO uses international cooperation in education, science, and culture to enhance mutual respect and contribute to peace in the world.