The Heersink House for Intangible Heritage: a new exhibition in the Dutch Open Air Museum
Intangible heritage connects us with the past, our environment and each other. It inspires and offers tools to take on new challenges. That is why intangible heritage is now given a permanent place in the Dutch Open Air Museum: the Heersink House for Intangible Heritage, so that you can come into contact with it more consciously. This permanent exhibition, located on the first floor of the Houtloods, is named after Marnix Heersink, a loyal donor and lover of intangible cultural heritage.
The Heersink House of Intangible Heritage is a new permanent exhibit at the Dutch Open Air Museum, located in the Houtloods.
The exhibition: a journey through intangible heritage
The exhibition explores three fundamental themes that together illustrate what intangible heritage is, why it is valuable, and how it evolves over time. At the end of your visit, you can share any intangible heritage you felt was missing by writing it down in a large ‘idea box.’ These three themes are presented through interactive exhibition displays, inviting visitors to engage with intangible heritage in a dynamic way.
Intangible heritage is dynamic
One display is dedicated to the ways in which intangible heritage evolves over time. Intangible heritage is also called living heritage because, like all living things, it adapts to changes in society. Migrants bring their own traditions, while existing traditions evolve in response to new norms and values.
Throughout the exhibition you will find various 'did you know that's': fun facts and trivia about intangible heritage.
For example, explore how the loss of biodiversity has led to a renewed appreciation for traditional crafts, how the celebration of Sinterklaas has changed over the years, and how lapwing eggs are now protected rather than collected. Video clips and objects bring this dynamic process to life.
Traditions throughout the year
In another interactive display, you will learn about traditions that mark special moments in the year, such as religious holidays. Examples include lighting candles during Chanukah or celebrating St. Martin. Traditions that commemorate historical events, like Keti Koti on July 1, are also highlighted.
These traditions demonstrate how intangible heritage is deeply connected to time, culture, and history. You will also discover that some traditions are observed by a large part of society, such as Remembrance Day and Liberation Day on May 4 and 5. Others, like Pride Amsterdam, hold special significance for specific communities.
Through interactive displays, you will learn about different facets of intangible heritage. You decide what you hear, see, and in what order.
Intangible heritage and the future
In another interactive display, you will focus on the future. To ensure intangible heritage is passed on to future generations, it must evolve with the times. Technological innovations, changing values, and the interests of young people play an important role in this process.
Discover how blacksmiths are experimenting with induction furnaces instead of traditional fires, how the martial art Pencak Silat is being made future-proof through networking in Indonesia, and how the Drenthe 'Bewust Oplettende Carbid Knaller' is giving a new twist to a tradition.
More than just looking
In addition to the three displays, the exhibition features many interactive components. Smell, listen, and experience intangible heritage up close! Throughout the Heersink House for Intangible Heritage, you'll also find 'did you know' sections with surprising facts and figures about intangible heritage in the Netherlands. There is always something new to discover for curious visitors.
At the Heersink House for Intangible Heritage, all your senses are treated to heritage, including your ears and nose.
In addition, there is a temporary exhibition addressing current challenges faced by heritage communities. The first edition focuses on the funfair and how operators are dealing with sustainability issues, such as emission-free zones in cities. This theme complements the museum's winter program, where a traditional funfair is organised right in front of the Heersink House for Intangible Heritage.
A joint effort
The Heersink House for Intangible Heritage was made possible through a collaboration between the Dutch Open Air Museum, the Dutch Centre for Intangible Heritage Netherlands (KIEN), and various heritage communities. The Open Air Museum has been providing a platform for living heritage for over a century, from millers to midwinter horn blowers, and from Staphorst dots to batik dyeing.
With this new permanent exhibition, intangible heritage is given a prominent place where visitors can discover and experience it in all its facets.
KIEN works to increase the visibility of intangible heritage, build networks, and support practitioners in passing intangible heritage on to future generations.