HOGE KEMPEN Rural-Industrial Transition Landscape 1
A Century of Transition We are delighted to present the nomination of the property ‘Hoge Kempen, Rural-Industrial Transition Landscape’ for the UNESCO World Heritage List. The nomination is the result of an intense cocreative process, involving experts, stakeholders, and inhabitants, over a 10-year period. We are convinced that this property adds an exceptional and unique aspect of human cultural development to the World Heritage List. In a period of only 100 years, a mono-cultural rural economy and society transformed into a multicultural industrial one. This trajectory of transition can clearly be read from today’s landscape, which holds all representative traces of the past heathland- as well as the coalmining-based activities. An overwhelming society characterized by traditions from all over Europe and Northern Africa blending with local lifestyles, has commonly shaped and currently shares this valuable biocultural landscape. Inhabitants are empowered to preserve this common past. The landscape strongly reflects their identities. It enables them to look trustfully forward to a common future. This is a story of successful transformation and transition in the past, with great relevance towards today’s society and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. On behalf of future generations we offer you this brochure. As much as it describes the physical landscape, it holds the ambitions and emotions of the actual inhabitants and stakeholders. We are all together looking forward to a recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, giving the past a prosperous future.
Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, Flemish Minister for Foreign Policy and Immovable Heritage
© Anneleen Mengels
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HOGE KEMPEN RURAL-INDUSTRIAL TRANSITION LANDSCAPE
Criterium IV: The site is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history.
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The Hoge Kempen Rural-Industrial Transition Landscape (or Hoge Kempen RITL) illustrates a significant phase in western history: the radical transition from a small-scale rural to a large-scale industrial economic system with worldwide perspectives.
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Rural landscape structure 1. Creek 2. Meadowland 3. Watermill 4. Farm 5. Fields 6. Coppiced stools 7. Heathland 8. Fen 9. Dune
Outstanding Universal Value
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The ancient heathland landscape, developed on a glacial sediment, combined with the impressive early 20th century mining patrimony mirrors the introduction of the Industrial Revolution in rural Europe.
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Industrial landscape structure 1. Colliery 2. Slag heaps 3. Pine tree plantation 4. Railway track with train station 5. Garden city 6. Underground exploitation area
Transition landscape structure
The landscape is outstanding because it features and presents all significant components of both the rural and industrial activities in a mosaic. The threefold structure of the rural system – with its heathlands, creek valleys and settlements – is found side by side with a very diverse in-
dustrial setting. This is represented by pine tree plantations, the mining sites and their garden cities – each designed with extraordinary architectural detail and carrying the signature of the individual mining companies. It is this mixture that makes the landscape stand out and that provides it with a unique identity. The value of the Hoge Kempen RITL lies in the fact that it enables us to fully understand how a landscape and its inhabitants were affected by and responded to this fundamental transition.
Landscapes referring to this important event in men’s history are therefore of common importance for present and future generations. The willingness to preserve and protect this Outstanding Universal Value is a vast aspect of regional development policy. Keen and smart actions as well as projects of re-use and valorization of heritage, together with education and interpretation, guarantee a sustainable conservation – respecting the integrity and authenticity of the original landscape.
The landscape is universal as the transition from a rural based economy into a carbon-fueled one, has taken place all over the world. The massive social turn-over from a monocultural into a multicultural society going along with it, is a worldwide phenomenon.
"The Hoge Kempen landscape has shaped people's identities in every aspect. Farmers and miners sharing no common past before, have created a common future together." Wim Dries (chairman of the Steering Committee)
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© Peter Baas
© Erwin Christis
Treasuring the scenic beauty of an authentic landscape
© Anneleen Mengels © Anneleen Mengels
"Het deit mich zuu veil daegt de hei te oenerhouwen zuu es det al hoenerde joaren gebierd. Mien schaep en ich loaten de minsen edere zumer proffeteiren van het paars landsjap." — "It gives me so much pleasure to preserve the heathlands as it has been done for hundreds of years. My sheep and I make people enjoy the purple landscape every summer." Kris Bertels (Belgian, herdsman) 6
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© Anneleen Mengels
7 reasons to welcome us on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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As a unique example of transformation in a changing world, the landscape and the nomination trajectory tackle the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In its essence it offers new opportunities for creating sustainable and peaceful communities while giving an answer to the challenges of preserving common values in a dynamic and evolving environment.
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The landscape is of great added value to complete the List with a fascinating episode in men’s history. In its association of rural and industrial traces it makes us fully understand how a landscape and its inhabitants have gone through and experienced the transition from a small-scale locally, towards a largescale globally oriented economy and society.
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The concept of a bio-cultural landscape, exemplifies the past and contemporary human quest of finding smart, skilled solutions for living. It gives an answer to the challenges and opportunities by using the landscape as a resource of knowledge and practices. Numerous treasured memories, long-lived aspirations, and valued traditions are reflected in the life stories of today's multicultural society. These shared values are the exceptional, intangible building blocks of the physical landscape and have shaped the community's identity and sense of belonging.
The landscape acts as a source of inspiration for current and future generations. Its assets are a catalyst for education, economic development, innovation, and social cohesion. A vast and impressive Management Plan guarantees direct impact on the quality of the landscape and the well-being of the society.
The Management Structure involves all relevant players, is effective, internationally orientated, community based, and scientifically supported. It is permanent, and dedicated to cash the opportunities of a World Heritage listing.
— "While growing up I had the chance to get acquainted with many different cultures and to mix them with my Moroccan roots. My father worked underground for 25 years, for which I admire him very much. Through his choice to come to Belgium, he has created the opportunities for me to start my own business." Fabiola Zahir (Moroccan, entrepreneur) 8
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© Het Weverke
© Kristof Vrancken
Celebrating and creating our community's landscape
© RLKM
© City of Genk
"Jedes Objekt in unserem Museum enthält die geballten Emotionen der Siedlungsbewohner. Außerdem sind diese Erinnerungen ausführlich in unseren Archiven gesichert." — "Each object in our museum captures the emotions of the garden cities' inhabitants. Moreover their memories are held safe in our archives." Jan Kohlbacher (Austrian, Museum of the Miner's House) 10
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© Anneleen Mengels
2010
Feasibility Study
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Antwerp
2011
Added to the Belgian Tentative List
2012
Charter of Engagement all governmental bodies
2013
Nomination European Landscape Award
2014
Consultation of the broader public and stakeholders
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Facts & figures
Brussels
SETTLEMENTS & FIELDS 284 ha HEDGEROWS - CHAPELS
CREEK VALLEYS 790 ha
Approval of the Nomination file and Management Plan, by all municipalities
INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM
2018
RURAL SYSTEM
HEATHLAND 2978 ha
2017
Handing over the Nomination file to the UNESCO-Headquarters in Paris
BELGIUM FLANDERS REGION OF
COUNTRY
PROVINCE
LIMBURG
MUNICIPALITIES MAASEIK AS MAASMECHELEN LANAKEN MEEUWEN-GRUITRODE BILZEN GENK ZUTENDAAL OPGLABBEEK DILSEN-STOKKEM
CORE ZONE: 5863 HA 12
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Maastricht
© Erwin Christis
4 WATERMILLS - DYKES - PONDS
FENS – SAND DUNES – COPPICED STOOLS
PINE TREE PLANTATIONS 1339 ha
4 GARDEN CITIES
3687 HOUSES MINING CATHEDRALS SCHOOLS - STREET PATTERNS
3 MINING SITES
ESTATES
RAILWAY TRACK 6 SLAGHEAPS
"La mia canzone rispecchia il coraggioso viaggio dei minatori Italiani che venivano a Hoge Kempen, lasciando la propria famiglia, alla ricerca di un futuro migliore. Insieme hanno costruito la comunità straordinaria in cui viviamo oggi, caratterizzata da orgoglio, rispetto e coerenza." — "My lyrics reflect the brave journey of the Italian miners to the Hoge Kempen, leaving their families behind in search for a better future. Together they have built the extraordinary community we live in today, characterized by pride, respect, and coherence." Gianluca Nobile (Italian, rapper and youth worker)
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ING COMMITT ER EE E ST JECT OFFIC O R
WORKING GROUP
WORKING GROUP WORKING GROUP
SCIENTIFIC BOARD
RAL ASSEMB E N LY GE
Giving a Future to the Past SCIENTIFIC BOARD Prof.Dr.Em. Anne Mie DRAYE
STEERING COMMITTEE Minister-President of the Flemish Government (chairman)
University of Hasselt (Belgium) Honorary dean of the Law Faculty
Governor & 2 Deputies of the Province of Limburg
Member of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Legal, Financial, and Administrative Issues. (former vice-president) Prof.Dr.Em. Marc ANTROP
10 Mayors of the Municipalities
PROJECT OFFICE
University of Ghent (Belgium) Department of Geography – Landscape Research
Hoge Kempen Rural-Industrial Transition Landscape
Member of ICOMOS-Belgium Scientific Committee
Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland VZW Winterslagstraat 87, B-3600 GENK, BELGIUM
Prof.Dr. Christiane TIMMERMAN University of Antwerp (Belgium) Director of the Centre of Migration and Intercultural Studies (CeMIS)
Contact: Johan Van Den Bosch T: +32 89 65 56 50 E: worldheritage@rlkm.be www.heritagehogekempen.be
Member of the board of directors of the European Research Network on Migration (IMISCOE)
Member of World Conservation Union (IUCN) and EUROPARC Federation
Prof.Dr. Koenraad VAN BALEN University of Leuven (Belgium) Director of the Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation (RLICC), Holder UNESCO chair on preventive conservation, monitoring, and maintenance of monuments and sites
NATIONAL FOCAL POINT
Member of ICOMOS-Belgium Former Secretary-General of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Structures
Flanders Heritage Agency
“Managing the landscape of the Hoge Kempen is an exciting task regarding the broad range and diversity of stakeholders. The participatory approach tackles very well the challenges ahead. It activates all policy and public levels involved and creates awareness. Combined with a strong legal protection, a dynamic and effective management strategy is guaranteed.” Annemie Draye (member of the Scientific Board) © Guy van Grinsven - Studiopress
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Colophon: This brochure is published by Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland vzw (Ignace Schops), Winterslagstraat 87, 3600 Genk, Belgium | D/2018/8362/14. Authors: Johan Van Den Bosch & Ina Metalidis | Translation: Jos Gielen | Graphic design: Hands Mediarouting. The nomination trajectory is financed by the Flemish Government, the province of Limburg and the municipalities of Genk and Maasmechelen.