Grensschap Albertkanaal. A gaze protecting landscape values and creating cross border unity Pieter Caljé Heritage Care Through Active Citizenship Mechelen March 23th, 2009

The place: the border area west of Maastricht

The cultural values of the landscape Oldest historical landscape Netherlands and Flanders Archeology: first traces proto-human activity (300.000 B.P.) First agricultural activities (5400 B.C.) Key military activities related to the Dutch Revolt and later up to WW II and the Cold War Historical values linked to the landscape as we see it today

Oldest historical landscape Netherlands and Flanders

Archeology: first traces proto-human activity (300.000 B.P.)

First agricultural activities (5400 B.C.)

Key military activities related to the Dutch Revolt and later up to WW II and the Cold War

Historical values linked to the landscape as we see it today

The project Grensschap Aim: to show and protect the cultural values of the landscape Threats: massive development activities (industry, house building, clay-explotation, railroads, canal, motorways) lack of control in planning because of the border

Aim: to show and protect the cultural values of the landscape

Threats:

massive development activities (industry, house building, clay-explotation, railroads, canal, motorways)

lack of control in planning because of the border

The Grensschap: the group some 15-20 citizens of both sides of the border active since 2003 essential: unstructured as organization, just monthly meetings, field trips, a newsletter and the will to accomplish something Unique: official participation civil servants three municipalities Bottom-up public-private partnership

some 15-20 citizens of both sides of the border

active since 2003

essential: unstructured as organization, just monthly meetings, field trips, a newsletter and the will to accomplish something

Unique: official participation civil servants three municipalities

Bottom-up public-private partnership

The Cultural Biography of the landscape The concept -> anthropology (Kopytoff0 Link structure actual landscape – historical events Relief -> military operations Loam -> continuity of agriculture Brooks -> silex-gathering Neanderthalers Landscape evokes stories - the narrative landscape Experience historical sensation

The concept -> anthropology (Kopytoff0

Link structure actual landscape – historical events

Relief -> military operations

Loam -> continuity of agriculture

Brooks -> silex-gathering Neanderthalers

Landscape evokes stories - the narrative landscape

Experience historical sensation

The project Evoke historical meaning landscape on the spot – let the landscape tell its own stories Funding: Three municipalities, two provinces, EU -> € 700.000 Three aims Creating a trans-border unity Use the concept of the cultural biography of the landscape Turn the defenseless landscape into something defensible by letting it speak for itself

Evoke historical meaning landscape on the spot – let the landscape tell its own stories

Funding: Three municipalities, two provinces, EU -> € 700.000

Three aims

Creating a trans-border unity

Use the concept of the cultural biography of the landscape

Turn the defenseless landscape into something defensible by letting it speak for itself

The artist’s conception Artist Hans Lemmen -> 14 landmarks spread over three municipalities and two countries Three unifying elements: megalith, border pole with information and three elms Creating a view, a informed gaze on the historical landscape on a agreeable spot

Artist Hans Lemmen -> 14 landmarks spread over three municipalities and two countries

Three unifying elements: megalith, border pole with information and three elms

Creating a view, a informed gaze on the historical landscape on a agreeable spot

Dousberg – Willem of Orange and Alva in 1568

Lanakerveld – the oldest agricultural area in the Netherlands

Sieberg – scene of a major battle in 1747

The result Lafelt (Belgium): a protected landscape Zouwdal studies (Netherlands): recognition of landscape value in future development planning

Lafelt (Belgium): a protected landscape

Zouwdal studies (Netherlands): recognition of landscape value in future development planning

Trans border effects Creation of a lasting trans-border network New projects: Trans-border c-2-c agriculture Trans-border educational projects Trans-border political cooperation Enhancing the trans-border conscience Visiting the 14 landmarks create a feeling of unity across the border Our borderpoles soften up the border

Creation of a lasting trans-border network

New projects:

Trans-border c-2-c agriculture

Trans-border educational projects

Trans-border political cooperation

Enhancing the trans-border conscience

Visiting the 14 landmarks create a feeling of unity across the border

Our borderpoles soften up the border

Civil Society and Public Frameworks Project crosses all kind of political borders Belgium-Dutch border Bureaucratic borders (culture, nature, economics) Hierarchy within bureaucracy (economy before nature and culture) Thesis: Top down approach reproduces those borders and stifles innovations Bottom up approach transgresses those borders and enables innovations

Project crosses all kind of political borders

Belgium-Dutch border

Bureaucratic borders (culture, nature, economics)

Hierarchy within bureaucracy (economy before nature and culture)

Thesis:

Top down approach reproduces those borders and stifles innovations

Bottom up approach transgresses those borders and enables innovations