World Heritage site Schokland

The former island of Schokland and the Reconstruction Area (Wederopbouwgebied) around it tell a story of 10,000 years of living with water in the Netherlands. There are many archaeological treasures in the soil, and the Schokland World Heritage Site thereby has the longest history of habitation in the Netherlands. Schokland and its surroundings have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.

UNESCO World Heritage

UNESCO World Heritage is unique. It comprises the world’s most extraordinary and significant buildings, areas and nature. The World Heritage Convention was drafted in 1972 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Only UNESCO can grant World Heritage status. There are now around 1200 World Heritage Sites on the World Heritage List. These must be preserved and passed on to future generations.

Thirteen unique places

Thirteen of these unique sites are located in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, from architecture to nature and from archaeology and military heritage to special landscapes. They are: Beemster Polder, Eise Eisinga Planetarium, Amsterdam Canal District, Dutch Water Defence Lines, Wouda Pumping Station, Colonies of Benevolence, Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout, Lower Germanic Limes, Rietveld Schröder House, Schokland and surroundings, Van Nelle Factory, the Wadden Sea and Willemstad, Curaçao. In all their diversity, they offer impressive stories that touch young and old alike. This keeps the world heritage alive, and people around the globe come to appreciate one another’s culture and nature. This stimulates curiosity and contributes to respect for one another.

World heritage as part of UNESCO

UNESCO World Heritage is the most famous part of UNESCO. But the organisation does much more than just protect our heritage. UNESCO is also the United Nations’ education and science organisation. Media is also an important area of focus, including issues such as press freedom. In this way UNESCO uses international collaboration in education, science and culture to increase respect for one another and contribute to peace in the world.