The concept ‘world heritage’ is at the core of the World Heritage Convention which was adopted by UNESCO in 1972. The Convention established the World Heritage List as a means of recognising that some places, both natural and cultural, are of sufficient importance to be the responsibility of the international community as a whole, and as a tool for conservation.

The Netherlands is an active partner in the World Heritage Convention 1972. The Dutch government ratified the convention in 1992.

The Dutch Tentative World Heritage List focuses on four Dutch themes:
- the Netherlands-Water
- the Dutch Republic in the seventeenth century
- the Modern Movement
- archaeology

Dutch heritage on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

Schokland and Surroundings (1995)

Defence Line of Amsterdam (1996)

Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (1997)

Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour, Netherlands Antilles (1997)

D.F. Wouda Steam Pumping Station (1998)

Beemster Polder (1999)

Rietveld Schröder House, Utrecht (2000)

Canal ring area inside the Singelgracht, Amsterdam (2010)

Click here for the website of UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The Dutch Tentative Dutch World Heritage List focuses on:

• the Netherlands and water
• the Dutch Republic in the seventeenth century
• the Modern Movement
• archaeology