Intangible Cultural Heritage | Geopark Schelde Delta

Heritage, like “intangible,” is a complex word, but what does it actually mean? Heritage refers to everything from the past that we value and wish to preserve for future generations. Intangible heritage consists of cultural expressions that are alive, giving people a sense of identity. These include social customs, rituals, knowledge, skills, performances, and traditions. UNESCO also has an international list for this type of heritage, created to highlight the diversity of intangible cultural heritage worldwide.

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity consists of 677 elements from 140 different countries (December 2022). This list is part of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. As a mandatory component of this convention, each member state must maintain an inventory of intangible heritage. The Netherlands and Belgium have such inventories as well.

Elements from these national inventories can be nominated for inclusion on the international Representative List. Although these elements are not specific to the Geopark area, they remain equally relevant in understanding shared cultural traditions. The full list can be found on the official UNESCO website.

Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Molen tijdens zonsondergang (Pexels - George Becker)

Miller’s craft

The miller’s craft encompasses the skills and knowledge required to operate and maintain a windmill. Although deeply rooted in Dutch tradition, it is an endangered profession. Today, there are only around forty professional millers. To safeguard this craft, various training programmes and educational activities are organised. In the Geopark area, millers are still active, and many mills can be visited.

Beer culture

Producing and enjoying beer is an important part of Belgian culture. Beer culture is more vibrant than ever, with a wide range of beer styles and brewing methods. As a result, many breweries continue to pass on the art of brewing to younger generations. There are even formal education programmes dedicated to brewing. Curious about the beers found in the Geopark? Discover more in this blog about beer tasting.

Weervisserij

Weervisserij is waarschijnlijk zo oud als de mensheid. Hit is een ambtelijke visserijtechniek waarbij vis in een fuik wordt geleid door stenen of houten bouwwerken. Er worden amper mechanische hulpmiddelen gebruikt waardoor de techniek erg arbeidsintensief is. Al eeuwen wordt er vanuit Bergen op Zoom op ansjovis gevist. Maar tegenwoordig is de weervisserij wereldwijd sterk achteruitgegaan. Ook in de Oosterschelde neemt het beroep af door de overbevissing.