News item | 30-03-2022 | 12:00
Together with a number of other European countries, the Netherlands has nominated the technique of grassland irrigation for the UNESCO list of intangible heritage. On this so-called Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity contains traditions, customs and crafts from around the world that are worth continuing to pass on. Grassland irrigation has been used in the Netherlands since the Middle Ages. The technique is still used in parts of Overijssel and North Brabant.
State Secretary Günay Uslu (Culture and Media): “Grassland irrigation is not only a proven technique that is useful for farmers and nature, but also a tradition that connects people in the Netherlands and beyond. The practitioners possess a wealth of knowledge and skills. With this nomination, this intangible heritage is passed on to future generations.”
What is Grassland Irrigation?
Grassland irrigation involves diverting water from a river, stream, or spring in such a way that it flows over a meadow. The flowing water releases water and nutrients onto the land, making the land more fertile, less likely to dry out and more resistant to frost. Diversion is an ingenious process that requires a great deal of expertise and cooperation: it is done by operating locks, constructing dams and digging trenches, among other things. Grassland irrigation also stimulates flora and fauna on land and in the soil. It is also a way to combat desiccation – one of the consequences of climate change.
In the Netherlands, two communities use grassland irrigation: Het Lankheet (Overijssel) and De Pelterheggen (North Brabant). The knowledge is passed on from generation to generation. There are many international contacts between the practitioners in the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg and Italy. That is why these countries have decided together to nominate this technique for the UNESCO list.
Keeping alive and passing on knowledge
The Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was established in 2012 to protect intangible heritage. Intangible heritage consists of traditions, rituals, customs and crafts that people do not want to lose and which they want to pass on to future generations. This requires a different approach than protecting material heritage such as monuments and museum objects. In the case of intangible heritage, ‘to protect’ means to keep alive and to pass on knowledge and skills to future generations.
Dutch intangible heritage
In addition to the international UNESCO list, there is also a Dutch list for intangible heritage from our country: the Inventory of Intangible Heritage Netherlands† Traditions must first be included in this national list before they can be nominated for the international UNESCO list. The coordination of this inventory is in the hands of the Knowledge Center Intangible Heritage Netherlands. There are currently three Dutch traditions on the UNESCO list: the miller’s craft, corso culture and falconry.