2016 FRH Biennial Conference

1. KEYNOTE
MARC DE BEYER
The presentation of religious heritage in
a changed heritage
FRH Conference in Vicenza
10th Nov. 2016

2. Marc de Beyer
Museum Catharijneconvent
The Netherlands
The presentation of religious heritage in a changed society

3. Religious landscape in the Netherlands has changed dramatically

4. Church attendance
 1966: 43% rarely/never attended church
 2015: 82% rarely/never attended church
Church membership
 1966: 67% belonged to a Christian church
 2015: 24.5% belonged to a Christian church
No more Churches?
 1996: 4% said yes | 85% absolutely not
 2015: 11% said yes | 54% said absolutely not

5. Changes in monastic life
 1960: 50,000 people living in monastic communities
 2016: 5,000
 Average age: 86
 1975 and 2008: 1,500 monasteries and convents were closed
 2012: 160 religious communities left
 2016: 90 (four years: -70)
 only 5-10 are expected to survive

6. Consequences religious heritage
 2008-2011: 300 religious buildings were closed
 100 a year | 2 every week
Prognosis Archbishop
 in ten years’ time: 300 > 20 churches (-93%)
Movable religious heritage
 200.000 – 500.000 redundant religious objects

11. Museum Catharijneconvent: more than a museum
 knowledge center on religious heritage
 documenting and assessing value of religious objects
 database: > 230,000 religious objects
Challenges
 Churches own buildings and artefacts (and need practical support)
 religious heritage is unknown to the public

12. What is needed?
 practical steps to support the owners
 raise awareness of our religious heritage

31. m.debeyer@catharijneconvent.nl