First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis 2018

Toespraak | 25-08-2018

Dear Friends,

Cultural heritage is the tangible memory of our past.

It tells us where we are coming from and who we are today.

And it can show us where we are going.

Clearly, cultural heritage deserves our protection.

We must protect it because we want to share our past with future generations.

Khalid Asaad was fully aware of this when IS forces seized Palmyra in 2015. The terrorists took him prisoner.

They wanted him to lead them to the city’s cultural treasures. The treasures that he had hidden away.

He refused, and in the end brought the greatest sacrifice:

his life.

The murder of Khalid Asaad made the pages of the New York Times, the Economist. He became the face of your profession all over the world.

The events in Syria were horrible,

the brutal murder of Khalid Asaad,

but his fate was exceptional,

just as his situation in Palmyra was exceptional.

Exceptional... and therefore newsworthy.

For most of us, for most of you, reality is far more mundane,

thank goodness.

But your activities are no less important.

Heritage is not only vulnerable to terrorism, after all.

It must also be protected from the forces of nature:

floods, earthquakes and so on.

The events are well known: in the Caribbean, in Nepal, in Italy and even in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands, you may be wondering?

Yes, even here.

As we live in a river delta that is partly below sea level, we are engaged in a constant battle against water.

In the northern province of Groningen, we experience earthquakes caused by natural gas extraction.

These tremblors are not as destructive and life-threatening as quakes elsewhere in the world, but they do have a big impact on people’s lives and they threaten our heritage.

Heritage is under threat all over the world and it needs to be protected.

This is why it is so important that you are here...

To learn from experts and from each other.

And later to share your new expertise with others.

As you transfer your knowledge, you will benefit from this expanded programme:

it now features a major curriculum, a handbook, a digital platform and a follow-up programme for alumni that will give rise to a worldwide network of defenders of heritage.

From this podium I call upon you to make full use of these opportunities!

But this doesn’t mean we’ve reached our goals.

You already do so very much,

but you cannot do it alone.

Protecting heritage requires commitment from many sides. From heritage owners, from experts, from emergency services, from governments.

We can only preserve heritage by working together, after all.

This is why it is so vital that the international community gets seriously involved. In advance – by making heritage less vulnerable to disasters and conflicts.

During a disaster or conflict – by working to limit damage.

And in the aftermath – by working on recovery and repair.

The international community can also combat looting and destruction. Nowadays, those who destroy heritage can be charged with a war crime, and the International Criminal Court in The Hague has already ruled on such a case.

In addition, it is essential that customs services work closely with heritage agencies to prevent the illegal trade in heritage objects. If thieves are unable to unload their purloined wares, then the trade will dry up.

In this regard, I would like to mention a specific role that museums have to play. Namely, that by organising heritage exhibitions, they can promote interest among the general public and underscore the importance of protecting our cultural treasures.

Dear friends,

Khalid Asaad was a hero.

You are following in his footsteps by protecting what is so dear to us:

Our past, the mirror that shows us who we are.

You came together here to get acquainted, to learn.

You will soon return home to share your new knowledge with others.

To ensure that our children and grandchildren can enjoy and learn from the heritage that we hold so dear.

I wish you every success in this vital mission!

Thank you for your kind attention.