Unveiling Climate-Adaptive World Heritage Management Strategies: The Netherlands as a Case Study

Kai Cheang, Nan Bai () and Ana Pereira Roders
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Kai Cheang: Department of Archaeological Heritage and Society, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
Nan Bai: Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BZ Delft, The Netherlands
Ana Pereira Roders: Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BZ Delft, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-22

Abstract: The Netherlands has established climate-adaptive strategies shaped by its long history of water-related climate events, such as the floods in 1421 and 1953. UNESCO World Heritage (WH) properties in The Netherlands reflect centuries of human intervention and natural processes to adapt and mitigate climate challenges, including spatial design and hydraulic engineering. The Dutch Climate Research Initiative also highlights cultural heritage as an integral component in preparing for the 2026 National Climate Adaptation Strategy. This article aims to unveil climate-adaptive World Heritage management strategies (CAWHMSs), using WH properties in The Netherlands as a case study. It collects textual data from Statements of Outstanding Universal Value, State of Conservation Reports by the State Parties and management plans. Through qualitative coding and keywords aggregation of the documents, the visualised results of a Sankey diagram and two semantic networks confirmed two CAWHMSs: conservation and developing WH properties as collaborative knowledge hubs. Conservation supports regulating urban climate and sustainable water management. As collaborative knowledge hubs, multidisciplinary sectors explore opportunities to align WH properties with broader sustainable development initiatives. They also deepen younger generations’ awareness of cultural and natural significance relevant to mitigating climate threats. The results emphasise WH as a contributor to climate adaptation. Cross-sectoral stakeholders can advance holistic climate adaptation efforts using CAWHMSs.

Keywords: world heritage; climate adaptation; management strategies; The Netherlands (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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