introduction

On the 28th of June 2000, at a national cross-cultural meeting on the protection of cultural heritage, the inauguration/launch of Blue Shield Nederland (the Blue Shield Committee of the Netherlands) took place. It was stated by the signing of the Declaration of Intent by representatives of ICA, IFLA, ICOMOS and the Nationale UNESCO Commissie

Blue Shield Nederland focuses on the protection of Dutch cultural heritage against the threats caused by natural disasters and armed conflicts, and on the coordination of national and international help.

The founding of the Blue Shield Committee of the Netherlands is an initiative of the Dutch representatives of the four coordinating international councils which are active in the field of archives, libraries, museums and monuments and sites: ICA (International Council on Archives), IFLA (Internationaal Federation of Library Associations and Institutions), ICOM (International Council of Museums) and ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) and of the National UNESCO Committee. One of the first actions of Blue Shield Nederland will be to estabish and maintain a database containing the names of individuals and institutes and their specific skills in the field of cultural preservation and conservation and/or disaster plans (contingency plans). In case of armed conflicts or (natural) disasters which form a threat to cultural institutes or monumental buildings, quick and coordinated help can be offered. For example: information dissemination, coordination and where necessary specific aid on storage, recovery and restoration activities.

Blue Shield Nederland has committed itself to the international agreements of The 1954 Hague Convention and The 1999 Second Protocol. Blue Shield Nederland acts in close collaboration with the Dutch National UNESCO Committee and the governmental institutes involved, such as Inspectie Cultuurbezit, Instituut Collectie Nederland, the Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCenW) and the Ministry of Defense.