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Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 25-06-2021 | 17:43

This policy enables the return of items of cultural value to the original owners or their heirs, specifically those looted, stolen, confiscated, sold under duress or otherwise expropriated involuntarily prior to and during the Second World War.

“We must continue our efforts to return items lost involuntarily or acquired illegally around the time of the Second World War to the right people,” says Van Engelshoven. “We will achieve this through systematic research and better communication. And when we really don’t know who the owner is, I am happy to say that we will then look at how we can return art looted from Jewish owners to the Jewish community. This is an important step forward in our thinking around restitution policy.”

Systematic provenance research

Systematic provenance research is to be resumed. This means that the provenance of all works still in the so-called Netherlands Art Property Collection (NK Collection) of cultural items returned to the Dutch state after the war will be re-examined. This effort will determine whether there are any new clues as to their provenance or original ownership. The aim is to return the items to the original owners or their heirs. As custodian of the NK Collection, the Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) will carry out this research and will also actively approach possible rightful owners. In so doing, it will build upon the extensive provenance research previously undertaken by the Origins Unknown Agency. The RCE’s work is intended to complement the research that is already conducted by the Expertise Centre for the Restitution of Items of Cultural Value and the Second World War at the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Better communication

With a new helpdesk and better access to all available information, Van Engelshoven also wants to make it easier to submit an application for restitution. Good and active communication about the policy and works which may have been looted will contribute towards this goal. As of 2022, the RCE will therefore be expanding its heritage helpdesk function to include information and advice on restitution. As well as people with questions about restitution applications, collection managers seeking advice about the relevant procedures will be able to contact the helpdesk.

In addition, access to the available information about possible looted art is being centralized. From now on, full details of the NK Collection can be found on the National Collection website at wo2.collectienederland.nl. This portal is to be further expanded and improved over the coming years.

Transfer of heirless art

If the original owners or heirs cannot be found, items of cultural value looted from Jewish owners and now in the possession of the State will be returned to the Jewish community. This is another basic principle of the strengthened restitution policy. The key requirement is that provenance research must first be carried out in order to determine whether an item belongs to anyone. But if the original owner or their heirs cannot be found, then arrangements will be made in consultation with the Jewish community to transfer this heirless art to a Jewish heritage institution. By taking this step, the minister is acting in accordance with the spirit and the substance of the 1998 Washington Principles, Article 9 of which states that a “just and fair” solution should be found for heirless art.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 09-06-2021 | 11:00

The funerary vase was purchased by the museum in 1988 as an addition to the national collection. The Italian authorities recently submitted a request for its return, having established that the vase was illegally excavated in Italy and was unlawfully removed from the country.

Scylla askos

The funerary vase, known as a Scylla askos, is made of earthenware. It originates from Canosa, Southern Italy, and dates to around 400-300 BC. The vase depicts the nymph Scylla and is decorated with dogs, a woman and child, Amazons, and the head of a duck. These types of vases were used in funeral rituals and then placed with the deceased in the grave.

Voluntary return

The State of the Netherlands is voluntarily handing the vase over to the Italian authorities, in response to their request that it be returned. The Italian authorities have convincingly demonstrated that the item left Italy unlawfully. The return of the vase to Italy is in the spirit of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, which states that museums should engage in dialogue on matters related to return and restitution. The procedure for disposal from the Dutch national collection laid down in the Heritage Act (Erfgoedwet) has been followed. The return is also in line with European and international legislation, such as the Directive on returning cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of another EU country.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 06-05-2021 | 14:30

The foundation cones, a clay tablet and two rare figurines are all Mesopotamian. An investigation by the Information and Heritage Inspectorate and an expert from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities confirmed that the objects came from Iraq. The Iraqi government contributed to this investigation and requested the Dutch government to return the objects. The private collector who gave up the items was not aware of their exact origin, and now wants to see them given back to Iraq. All the objects are protected under Iraqi cultural heritage legislation, and all are listed on the International Council of Museums’ red lists. These lists give examples of objects that are vulnerable to theft, plundering and illegal export from their countries of origin.

Foundation cones and Halaf figurine

Foundation cones are large clay cones that were placed in the walls of buildings or buried in the foundations of temples. They were inscribed with texts in cuneiform script, one of the world’s earliest writing systems. This means that they are of cultural and historical significance. The same can be said for the clay tablet. The two figurines are considerably older, and also rarer. One of them is a Halaf figurine representing the mother goddess, a symbol of fertility, and was used in sacrifice rituals. The other is a figurine of a ram and was used as an amulet or a stamp or seal.

Mesopotamian culture

Mesopotamia was the cradle of modern civilisation. This is what makes Iraq’s cultural heritage so important for the entire world. Civilisation in the region dates back to 6000 BC and produced a wide range of cultural expressions. Remnants of this rich culture have found their way to every part of the world. This is partly due to the conflicts that have ravaged Iraq and the wider region since 1990. During these wars, museums, libraries and excavations have been plundered or destroyed. Many objects of cultural heritage have been smuggled out of the country and, through various routes, have found their way onto the black market.

Ban on trade in Iraqi heritage

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a system of sanctions to protect Iraq’s cultural heritage, and these have been implemented in European law. They prohibit trade in objects of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific and religious importance that Iraq has designated as protected. 

The Information and Heritage Inspectorate is one of the agencies that is monitoring compliance with the national sanction measures and works closely with the customs authorities, the police, the Public Prosecution Service, experts and international organisations. More information about the protection of cultural heritage can be found on the Inspectorate’s website. The Minister of Foreign Affairs adopts the sanction measures in consultation with other ministers and coordinates implementation of these measures. The return of these seven objects is taking place under the Iraq Sanctions Order 2004 II.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 29-01-2021 | 15:07

The Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ingrid van Engelshoven:

“The colonial past is a subject that still personally affects many people every day. This is why we must treat colonial collections with great sensitivity. I believe it important that colonial collections should be accessible and that they tell their stories from a variety of perspectives. This could mean a painful confrontation with the injustices in our past, the effects of which are in some cases still felt every day. There is no place in the Dutch State Collection for cultural heritage objects that were acquired through theft. If a country wants them back, we will give them back.”

Independent assessment committee

To ensure that colonial heritage objects are treated with care and sensitivity, it is essential that requests for their return are assessed independently, expertly and transparently. An independent assessment committee will therefore be appointed to advise on the matter. The committee will assess whether investigations into provenance provide sufficient evidence to establish if the objects in question were acquired through involuntary loss of possession.

Policy on returning objects

This policy concerns requests for the return of cultural heritage objects that are in the possession of the State; such requests must come from a nation state. Such objects in the possession of the State that are to be returned will be transferred to the relevant nation state.

Three categories of cultural heritage objects are eligible for return to their country of origin. If it can be established that an object was indeed stolen from a former Dutch colony, it will be returned unconditionally. Cultural heritage objects that were stolen from a former colony of another country, or which are of particular cultural, historic or religious significance to a country, may also be eligible for return. In such cases, the assessment committee will weigh the interests of the various parties. This will include such aspects as the cultural significance of the objects to the country of origin, the relevant communities in the countries of origin and in the Netherlands, the significance for the Dutch collection, the conditions in which the items are to be stored, and public accessibility to the objects.

Collaborating with countries of origin

Any action aimed at redressing these injustices can only be taken in partnership and dialogue with the former colonies. The government is exploring further opportunities for exchanging knowledge and joint research into colonial collections with Indonesia, Suriname and the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. During these discussions, the Netherlands will be committed to ensuring accessibility to the objects, and that they are managed in a sustainable manner. Dutch museums and the public at large also stand to benefit from the sharing of history and knowledge about the collections and colonial history.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 30-11-2020 | 08:23

The Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker and the Minister of Emancipation Ingrid van Engelshoven have spoken to the Transgender Collective today and offered apologies on behalf of the State of the Netherlands. Dekker commented:

‘Transgender people were faced with a difficult, almost impossible choice under the old law. It was only possible to change the gender designation after a physical transition and completely abandoning the wish to have children. Such a violation of physical integrity is no longer conceivable in this day and age. It is important to recognise the suffering of transgender people and to offer acknowledgement, compensation and apologies.’

Van Engelshoven added:

‘The poignant personal stories illustrate that this legislation has had an enormous impact on transgender people. For many, the law proved to be a symbol of social rejection and dreams were extinguished as a result of the irreversible sterilisation procedure, which has inflicted considerable suffering. The government therefore considers acknowledging their suffering, offering apologies and financial compensation appropriate.’

In the government’s view, the Transgender Act should be deemed unlawful from the end of 2008, based partly on the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. Although the time limit for compensation claims has expired in principle, the government firmly believes that acknowledgement of suffering and apologies are appropriate, combined with a voluntary financial compensation. This acknowledgement and the apologies relate to the entire period in which the old Transgender Act was in force. Transgender people who underwent a physical transition between 1 July 1985 and 1 July 2014, resulting in changing the gender registration on their birth certificate, are eligible for compensation. The compensation amounts to €5,000 per person. The scheme will be published before the summer of 2021.

Ministers Van Engelshoven and Dekker will continue the discussions with the Transgender Collective and other parties so that acknowledgement and the apologies will contribute to wider social acknowledgement, greater awareness of the events and to offer the opportunity for meetings.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 24-03-2020 | 11:12

‘We’re aware of the enormous demands being placed on teachers right now,’ Mr Slob said. ‘And pupils want to be able to prepare well for their exams. This is a far-reaching decision but it provides clarity. I want to give all pupils the chance to leave school with a proper qualification despite this crisis, so that they can start their further education without delay in the autumn.’

School exams

The national exams for the 2019/2020 school year have been cancelled. Pupils can obtain their school-leaving certificates based on their results in the school exams. This decision gives schools more time to organise the last round of school exams with due consideration for quality and safety. Schools are urged to hold the exams online where possible. They may adapt their assessment and graduation schedules (Programma van Toetsing en Afsluiting) to make this possible. The government is consulting with higher education and secondary vocational education on how first-year students starting in September can be as ready as possible for their further education, given the current situation.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 10-12-2021 | 15:45

Caretaker Minister for Infrastructure & Water Management, Barbara Visser, says: “There are about 25.000 seafarers on Dutch ships, and a fleet of 2.200 ships is managed from the Netherlands. The maritime sector contributes to 3% of our economy. 90% of all goods worldwide are transported by sea, including most of the products we buy in our shops. In a global sector like the maritime sector, a level playing field is important – and international agreements have to be made to secure that. I also think of our ambitions for zero-emission shipping and safe transport. It’s also about a safe working environment, with the IMO’s call for access to vaccines for seafarers as a recent example. The Netherlands has made an effort to ensure seafarers could get a Covid-19 vaccine in Dutch ports – regardless of their nationality. I am proud that we can contribute to safe, secure and sustainable shipping.”

Dutch priorities

The Netherlands is part of the group of countries that aims for more ambitions for a greener maritime sector, to become climate neutral in 2050. Within this group, the Netherlands works to promote the interests of the Dutch maritime sector.

Furthermore, the Netherlands wants to work on the safe transport of containers and the development of safe autonomous vessels. The Netherlands also wants to support renewed training standards for seafarers and to pay more attention to the smaller member states (like islands).

An important contribution to this successful re-election has been the level of knowledge present within our maritime cluster of the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries and public bodies. Additionally, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been actively contributing to the IMO working groups dealing with safety, climate and environmental issues. The seat in the Council will be filled by representatives of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

The International Maritime Organisation, founded in 1948, is a UN agency responsible for the international regulations in maritime shipping. On 10 December, the Assembly – consisting of all member states – elected a new Council. Next to the Netherlands, 39 other countries sit on the Council.

The Council meets twice a year and acts as a daily board governing the International Maritime Organisation. In addition to the Assembly of all member states, the IMO compromises five committees active in maritime safety and security, the environment, facilitation, legislation, and technical cooperation to support member states with insufficient knowledge and means.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 10-11-2021 | 01:00

Clean transport cuts emissions

Transport is a major sector in the Netherlands, providing jobs and income. And the sector is increasingly green: Dutch companies excel in building zero emission buses and trucks. Yet heavy-duty transport is still a major source of air pollution, accounting for over a third of road traffic carbon emissions globally and producing many toxic gases that people breathe in directly. Transport sector emissions worldwide are not yet in line with the Paris Agreement goals.

Solutions important to the Netherlands

Electric and hydrogen-powered trucks and buses provide a solution to the problem. They are quiet and have zero emissions, but are currently still expensive. Many transport companies cannot afford them, and many manufacturers are still hesitant about mass producing clean heavy-duty vehicles.

The Netherlands wants to accelerate efforts in this field. The Dutch government provides grants for businesses wanting to purchase emission-free delivery vans, and a similar scheme is soon to be introduced for heavy goods vehicles. However, it is important that customers have a wide choice of vehicles. Since lorry and bus manufacturers are located around the world, international cooperation is essential.

State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Steven van Weyenberg: ‘This agreement is a great start. The Netherlands is ambitious. In our National Climate Agreement, we’ve already pledged to make all road traffic clean by 2050. It’s important to work together with other countries to ensure that the market develops more quickly. So I call on other countries to join us.’

In addition to the Netherlands, the heavy-duty vehicles agreement has also been signed by Austria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Wales.
 

Working together

The fifteen countries are going to create policy that will help achieve the agreed goals. They will not only work together and exchange knowledge but also meet every year to report on the progress being made. In addition to countries, various states, transport companies and heavy goods vehicle manufacturers are involved, including California, DHL, Heineken, Scania and BYD.

The logic behind the agreement is simple. If the heavy-duty vehicles fleet is to be zero emission by 2050, all new trucks and buses purchased must be clean from 2040. After all, they have a lifespan of approximately 10 years. And to accommodate the moments when businesses are most likely to replace their fleet, the goal is for 30% of the new heavy-duty vehicles market to be zero emission by 2030.

Charging stations

To underscore the importance of good charging stations, the Netherlands and California are hosting a separate session on charging stations at the climate summit today. After all, clean cars, buses and goods vehicles cannot operate without proper charging infrastructure.

More information about the agreement and a full list of signing countries and supporting parties:
https://globaldrivetozero.org/MOU/ 
 

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 04-11-2021 | 14:22

Electric car sharing on the rise

Electric car sharing is growing rapidly. That is good news for our climate and clean air in the city; cars that are propelled by electricity do not emit exhaust gases. The number of electric shared cars (both full electric and plug-in hybrid) has doubled in 2021. Of all 87.825 shared cars in the Netherlands, about 13% is electrical. That is a high percentage when compared to the average car in the Netherlands of which roundabout 3,1 per cent is electrical.

Vice minister Van Weyenberg (infrastructure and water works) states that this is good news: “Car sharing is on the rise and that is a good thing. It helps mitigate climate change, cleaner air and a better use of public space. On top of that, for many people it is an affordable alternative to a privately owned car or a second car. And being electric only makes it more advantageous.”

Growth on all fronts

The quick increase of the number of electrical shared cars is seen in multiple areas. Free-floating shared cars (in which you can leave the car at your destination) are practically all fully electric. This also goes for the roundtrip shared cars which are home zone based. The other variant of roundtrip carsharing (the station based version) and business carsharing are off for a good head start in electrification.

Research shows that the process of installing a charging point near a car sharing parking spot can be a delaying factor. Especially the realisation of charging infrastructure in public spaces is time consuming, requiring an extra planning effort for car sharing service providers.

Growth is accelerating

The Netherlands had about 87.000 shared cars early 2021. In one year’s time that means that about 13.000 cars have been added. On a national scale, the growth of shared cars is continuing and even seems to accelerate.

Type of car sharing

All types of car sharing have increased on the supply side over 2020. The most frequently observed type of car sharing is peer-to-peer car sharing, which enables you to rent a car from another person. Of all other types, business car sharing has seen the fastest growth, followed by round trip car sharing. After that we see community-based car sharing (a fixed group of people is using one or more shared cars in a closed pool) and free floating car sharing.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 21-09-2021 | 15:15

Accessibility of the Netherlands

Regular maintenance of our roads, bridges, and railways is vitally important, in order to keep trucks, passenger cars, ships, and trains moving. In this day and age, such maintenance is especially important, because our infrastructure is subject to more intensive use than estimated upon its original construction, seventy years ago, and because traffic flows are heavier now. Consequently, the Netherlands is faced with one of the largest infrastructure taskings since records began.

Next year, Rijkswaterstaat will be able to invest 2.1 billion euros in maintenance, replacement, and innovation. Up to 2025 inclusive, the ProRail railway authority will be investing 1.5 billion euros annually in railway management, maintenance, and replacement. In the future, however, the deficits will be substantial. The investments scheduled for 2022 will enable the organisations to nonetheless proceed with the next steps.

As the Netherlands will be building another 900,000 houses in the years up to 2030 inclusive, additional connections and infrastructure will be required in order to enable the new residents to continue to travel smoothly from one location to another. For example, by the end of 2021, the second and third ten-minute trains will be operating between Arnhem – Utrecht and Schiphol Airport, and between Schiphol Airport and The Hague – Rotterdam. The outgoing Cabinet is aiming for maximum sustainability with respect to infrastructure maintenance and construction, also with a view to the nitrogen issue. A case in point is the grant scheme for entrepreneurs intending to procure zero-exhaust construction machines.

Safety of the Netherlands

The situation in the province of Limburg has demonstrated that the Netherlands needs better protection against the consequences of extreme weather. The IPCC climate report underscores the urgency of such measures. That is why the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is fully committed to dyke improvement and river widening. Further studies are exploring how the Netherlands can be prepared for severe precipitation. The recommendations from such studies will be followed up in 2022.

In addition to severe precipitation, extreme weather also involves prolonged drought. Via the Delta Fund, the Ministry is investing an additional 100 million euros in measures aimed at climate-proofing our freshwater supply. This brings the total sum available for such measures to 250 million euros.

This year, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will once more invest 50 million euros in the improvement of nationwide road safety, out of the 500-million-euro package that will become available in the ten years ahead. Local and regional governments can use these funds in the purview of the construction or adaptation of safe infrastructure, e.g., for bicycles.

Liveability of the Netherlands

A liveable environment with greenery and clean air is essential for everyone. That is why the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is committed to boosting a zero-waste economy: the circular economy. In 2022, 14 million euros will be available for this purpose, for example, to assist entrepreneurs in streamlining their reuse.

The Ministry is also making headway in terms of cleaner mobility. In the years ahead, the grant scheme for the purchase or lease of new or used electric passenger cars will be expanded. This scheme has proven immensely popular over recent years. For the next three years, the Ministry has allocated an additional 90 million euros to this incentive scheme.

A focal point under the climate package is the use of quayside electricity, which obviates the need for moored ships to use polluting fuel oil for their power generation.

COVID-19

The measures to combat COVID-19 have significantly reduced the number of tailbacks and public transportation volumes. Now that society is gradually “opening up” again, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management wants to minimise congestion by spreading road and public transportation traffic. To this end, the Ministry is setting down agreements with employers and educational establishments on allowing staff to work from home for several days a week.

Although public transportation passenger volumes are picking up, the revenue has not yet reached pre-COVID levels. In order to keep the public transportation facilities up to par, a sum of 140 million euros has been budgeted for the extension of the public transportation availability allowance up to 31 August 2022.