State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

either completely disappeared or are no longer recognizable as a result of the Zuyder Zee works, in which a marine inlet with a connection to the open sea became a fresh water lake known as the IJsselmeer. Also expansion as a result of the Schokland and Surroundings reclamation of new land within the IJsselmeer has made these micro-societies disappear. Brief description Archaeologically, such reminders are no longer Schokland was a peninsula that by the 15th century traceable due to, for instance, the construction of had become an island. Occupied and then new housing estates. abandoned as the sea encroached, it had to be Criterion (v): Schokland and surroundings is an evacuated in 1859. But following the draining of the outstanding example of the prehistoric and historic Zuider Zee, it has, since the 1940s, formed part of occupation of a typical wetland, especially in the land reclaimed from the sea. Schokland has relation to the reclamation and occupation of peat vestiges of human habitation going back to areas. It is precisely because of these occupation prehistoric times. It symbolizes the heroic, age-old and reclamation activities that large areas of land struggle of the people of the Netherlands against were lost. The formation of the Zuyder Zee itself the encroachment of the waters. can also be considered as a result of these historic activities. Schokland is the last vestige of a once 1. Introduction much greater area of occupation. The history of this greater area is eminently represented in this small Year(s) of Inscription 1995 area with its settlements, cemeteries, large number Agency responsible for site management of terps, dykes and parcelling systems. Ongoing agricultural mechanization and the dehydration of • Netherlands Department for Conservation deeper levels form a constant threat to the quality (Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg- of the cultural and organic remains. RDMZ) (since 1st November 2006: Netherlands Department for Archaeology, Criterion (vi): Schokland bears testament to a Cultural Landscape and Monuments – natural disaster of unprecedented dimensions RACM (Rijksdienst voor Archeologie, which took place in the wet heartland of the Cultuurlandschap en Monumenten)), in Netherlands in the Late Middle Ages. Reclamation contact with the Province of , the and agricultural activities and the associated Municipality of Noordoostp (older, Stichting dehydration made the large peat area in the middle Het Flevo-landschap) the Flevolandscape of the Netherlands more vulnerable to erosion. Association, and the National service for Erosion was caused by a number of peat rivers and Archaeological Heritage (Rijksdienst voor especially by the Waddenzee in the north. As a het Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek-ROB, result of this erosion, a very large area of land was (since 1st November 2006: Netherlands lost. This land could only recently be reclaimed, and Department for Archaeology, Cultural then only in part. This new reclamation was carried landscape and Monuments – RACM) out at the great cost of effort and expense. Broederplein 41 Schokland not only reminds us of the historic 3703 CD Zeist reclamation activities but also of the grim battle The Netherlands against the rising water that seemed lost in 1859 e-mail: [email protected] when the island was finally evacuated. This battle website: www.monumentenzorg.nl was eventually won when new land around the

island was reclaimed by the Zuyder Zee works 2. Statement of Significance when the island became surrounded by a new cultural landscape. In this respect Schokland Inscription Criteria C (iii) (v) should be looked upon as a concrete symbol of, on the one hand, the general struggle of man against Justification provided by the State Party the elements and, on the other hand, the Criterion (iii): The island of Schokland is the last characteristic Dutch battle against water. cultural-historical and physical reminder of a typical micro-society in and on the coasts of the former Zuyder Zee. Reminders of these societies have State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

the former Zuyder Zee, part of the never-ceasing As provided in ICOMOS evaluation struggle of the people of the Netherlands against water, and one of the greatest and most visionary Qualities: the struggle of the people of the human achievements of the twentieth century. Netherlands against water has endured more than a thousand years, and still continues today: without constant vigilance more than half the present area • Statement of Significance adequately defines of the country would be entirely submerged or the outstanding universal value of the site subject to periodical inundation. Schokland forms • No change required part of a large peat island that gradually decreased Boundaries and Buffer Zone in size between AD 1000 and the mid 19th century • Status of boundaries of the site: adequate as a result of the gradual encroachment of the Zuyder Zee, until it had to be evacuated in 1859. • Buffer zone: no buffer zone has been defined but none is needed as existing protective As a result of the colossal reclamation programme legislation is adequate that began in the early years of the 20th century, Schokland and the settlement mounds and other Status of Authenticity/Integrity human interventions that surround it stand above • World Heritage site values have been the flat lands of the reclaimed as maintained mute testimony to the skill and fortitude of the Dutch people in the face of this never-ceasing natural threat. 3. Protection Recommendation: that this property be inscribed on Legislative and Administrative Arrangements the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria iii • National: and v: -1988 Monuments Act (Monumentenwet) -Housing Act (Woningwet) (2003) (for Schokland and its surroundings preserve the last establishing criteria for building aesthetics) surviving evidence of a prehistoric and early historic -Forestry Act (Boswet) (1961) (for the society that had adapted to the precarious life of conservation of forests and timberland) wetland settlements under the constant threat of -Flora and Fauna Act (Flora - Faunawet) (1998) temporary or permanent incursions by the sea. It -Space/Space for Development Document lies within the agricultural landscape created as a (Nota Ruimte. Ruimte voor Ontwikkeling) (2004) result of the reclamation of the former Zuyder Zee, part of the never-ceasing struggle of the people of Province of Flevoland: the Netherlands against water and one of the -Regional plan for nature and landscape greatest and most visionary human achievements (Gebiedsplan voor natuur en landschap) (2002) of the twentieth century. -Landscape Bye-Law (Landschapsverordening) (2002) (states that it is forbidden to place Committee Decision captions or advertising boards outside the built- up area of a town/city) Bureau (July 1995): the Bureau decided to refer the -Surrounds Plan (Omgevingsplan) (2000) nomination back to the State Party in order to allow -Earth Removal Bye-Law (1997) (includes the State Party to resolve the situation regarding conditions regarding earth removals) the potential recreation area. In the event of a satisfactory solution being proposed by 1 October Municipality of Noordoostpolder: 1995, the Bureau recommended that this property -2003 Landscape Policy Plan be inscribed on the World Heritage List on the basis (Landschapsbeleidsplan) of criteria (iii) and (v). -Rural Area Zoning Plan (Bestemmingsplan Session (1995): the Committee decided to inscribe landelijk gebied) (1978) (the land within the site is primarily for agricultural purposes). this site on the basis of criteria (iii) and (v), considering that Schokland and its surroundings Zuiderzeeland District Water Board: preserve the last surviving evidence of a prehistoric -Water Level Decrees 'Schokland and and early historic society that had adapted to the surroundings' (Peilbesluiten ‘Schokland en precarious life of wetland settlements under the omgeving’) (2002 and 2003) constant threat of temporary or permanent incursions by the sea. Schokland is included in the • The protection arrangements are considered agricultural landscape created by the reclamation of sufficiently effective State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

Actions taken/proposed: • Levels of public authority who are primarily • The development of a strategy for conserving involved with the management of the site: local. two areas, marked on the Flevoland Also: Municipality of Noordoostpolder (local), Archaeological Monument Map Flevolandscape Association (regional), (Archeologische Monumentenkaart (AMK) Zuiderzeeland District Water Board Flevoland) as areas of extremely high • The current management system is sufficiently archaeological value (20F-002; 21A-008) effective • The necessity of altering the protection of the archaeological treasures at the terps in 5. Management Plan Middelbuurt and Zuidpunt protected as a monument is being investigated • Management plan is being implemented • The necessity of supplementary legal protection • Implementation commenced: December 2004 of archaeological structures in the possession • Aim: (from Regional Document of the Flevolandscape Association will also be (Gebiedsdocument)) 2004-2006: investigated -Providing insight into how a sustainable • The State Property Services IJsselmeerpolders, perspective for the long term can be achieved the Northern Netherlands Agricultural and -Formulating guidelines for managing the site Horticultural Organisation (NLTO) and the so the essential values of the World Heritage Province of Flevoland will formulate a plan on remain preserved the ‘Agricultural Development Plan’ (project: -Formulating a programme of measures and ‘formulating a communication plan for projects aimed at preserving and developing archaeological values in the agricultural the site and its constituent parts area/Agricultural Development Plan Schokland’) -Intensifying public attention to and interest in • National, regional and local levels of action. No the site timeframe provided • The Flevolandscape Association (Stichting Het Flevo-Landschap) is also developing management plans: 4. Management -Management Plan Nature and Landscape Schokland (Beheerplan Natuur en Landschap Use of site/property Schokland), July 2004 • Rural landscape -The formulation of a maintenance programme Management/Administrative Body has been commissioned for the ‘church ruin’, • Steering group set up on 01 / 01 / 1998. Legally the historical ‘hearth plate' and ‘well’ (Zuidert constituted: on 22 December 2004, the Terp) ‘Regional Partners' (the administration of the -Agricultural development plan Municipality of Noordoostpolder, the • Effective administration of the Flevolandscape Association, the administration of the Northern 6. Financial Resources Agricultural and Horticultural Organisation Flevoland, the administration of the Financial situation Zuiderzeeland District Water Board, the • Municipality of Noordoostpolder; administration of the Province of Flevoland, the Flevolandscape Association; Province of Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Flevoland; Central Government (Ministries of Ministry of Finance and State Property Services Agriculture, Nature Management and Food IJsselmeerpolders) signed the Regional Quality (LNV) and Education, Culture and document Schokland and Surroundings, 2004- Science (OCW)); occasional public or private 2006, with administrative agreements to sponsors preserve, protect, and promote the site • Public or private sponsors: donation by the The Regional document takes 2015 as its time National Postcode Lottery for restoring horizon monuments on the southern point of Schokland • No site manager but none needed and creating the hydrological buffer zone; • Management under protective legislation; donation (January 2004) by the National management under contractual agreement Postcode Lottery to the Flevolandscape between the State Party and a third party; Association for purchasing land to help prevent consensual management; management by the subsidence of the island and for restoration steering group State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

work to the greenery; purchase of agricultural 10. Scientific Studies parcels by the Flevolandscape Association • No funding drawn in through World Heritage • There is an agreed research Fund framework/strategy for the site • Insufficient: the Flevolandscape Association • Studies related to the value of the site; has commissioned a financial-economic Monitoring exercises investigation to gain insight into the future • -Archaeological Monument Map Flevoland developments in Schokland (Archeologische Monumentenkaart Flevoland, 1997), shows all known archaeological sites rated as such. The map was recently reviewed. 7. Staffing Levels Schokland is shown with the five archaeological sites protected or soon to be protected by • Number of staff: 2 Central Government. The map can be consulted at www.archis.nl Rate of access to adequate professional staff -Cultuurhistorische@atlas Flevoland (2002), a across the following disciplines: digital atlas on CD, showing the major • Good: conservation, management archaeological, landscape and urban • Average: promotion, interpretation, education, development structure, indicating the presence visitor management of cultural heritage and its value • Staff resources are adequate -Studies focus on the geological structure and • Help from volunteers who give guided tours hydrological condition of the soil on the former island of Schokland for the purpose of creating and managing the ‘hydrological zone’ 8. Sources of Expertise and Training in • Studies used for management of the site and its Conservation and Management conservation Techniques • Management of archaeological heritage: 11. Education, Information and Awareness provincial archaeologist from the Province of Building Flevoland; National Service for Archaeological Heritage (ROB) • An adequate number of signs referring to World • No training on site management Heritage site • World Heritage Convention Emblem not used on publications 9. Visitor Management • Adequate awareness of World Heritage among: visitors, local communities, local authorities. • Visitor statistics: not provided but visitor Inadequate: businesses numbers are increasing • There is no education strategy for the site • Visitor facilities: • Need for awareness raising amongst the -Schokland Museum, Middelbuurt (since 1987, residents/farmers more in the management and dedicated to the geology, archaeology and conservation of the site history of the island. Rebuilt and refurbished in 1996) • The Schokland Fair is held biannually, in -19th-century church on the Middelbuurt terp November; Open Monument Day (September); (used for concerts) Open Museum Day -Parking facilities; museum restaurant; • Website available http://www.schokland.nl/ (IVN information panels; 3 educational/recreational Consulentschap Flevoland) routes; footpaths http://www.natuurlijk-schokland.nl/werelder.htm, -‘Stone Garden’ visitors centre Schokland (website of ‘Natuurlijk Schokland’) (reorganised, reopened in 2000: geology) • Local participation: No special steps have been -Training for ‘Schokland guides’ (training of 16 taken (to date). A communication plan is being guides) prepared

• Visitor facilities are adequate • There is no tourism/visitor management plan for 12. Factors affecting the Property (State of the site Conservation)

Reactive monitoring reports • N/A State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

Conservation interventions 14. Conclusions and Recommended • Creation of a ‘hydrological zone’ Actions • Restorations carried out: -Church ruin (Ens church, Zuidpunt) (2002-2003) • Main benefits of WH status: conservation, -Reburial on 7 May 2003 in an ossuary built during management the most recent restoration of the church ruin at the • Weaknesses of management: possible further southern point of Schokland of the remains of early unexpected subsidence of the former island; inhabitants, exhumed in 1940 at the Ens church developments towards possible intensification ruin of agriculture, which can result in damage to -19th-century well, Zuidert terp (2003) the archaeological heritage -Foundation of early beacon, Zuidpunt (2003) -Construction of a refuge hut at Zuidpunt, in the form of early homes on Schokland -Lighthouse keeper's house, situated at Noordpunt -Construction of the ‘Misthoorn’, situated at Noordpunt -Old Harbour, Oud- (a fishing harbour, reconstructed in 1983, restored in 2004/2005) -Shell paths have been laid and information panels installed for tourists • Present state of conservation: good

Threats and Risks to site • Agricultural/forestry regimes; other: land subsidence/level of the groundwater • Emergency measures: creation of a hydrological zone as discussed above

13. Monitoring

• Formal monitoring programme: In 2003-2004, archaeological monitoring was carried out within the framework of the creation of the hydrological zone (published, 2005) • Key indicators: parameters for this monitoring (the Province of Flevoland commissioned the design of a measurement network, six-monthly measurements in 2003, three-monthly measurements in 2004): -Investigating the quality of archaeological materials and the soil environment of the archaeological sites -Land subsidence on and around the island -Natural values of the areas -Groundwater and surface water levels, to conserve the archaeological heritage -Archaeological values in the recently created hydrological zone • The Flevolandscape Association has commissioned a maintenance programme for the monuments Church Ruin, Hearth Plate and Well The Municipality of Noordoostpolder has commissioned a maintenance plan for the buildings at Middelbuurt (museum)