Minister Bruins (Education, Culture and Science) is investing a one-time €155 million and structurally €15.8 million in the maintenance and restoration of national monuments. He writes this today in a letter to the House of Representatives. Especially large national monuments can count on additional financial support. Part of the investments will go to large (church) buildings. The minister is preventing more (large) monuments from falling into serious disrepair.
Minister Bruins (OCW): In a rapidly changing world, monuments provide connection and a shared past. Monuments are tangible history and part of our national identity. As a government, we support owners in caring for these monuments, but especially for large national monuments, the challenge for maintenance and costs is significant. With this package of loans and subsidies, we now offer a solution for many monument owners. The preservation of these monuments ensures that we continue to recognize the Netherlands.
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Preventing Irreparable Decay
Keeping a monument in good condition is expensive, and the pressure on available resources for monument care is high. Especially for owners of large national monuments, it is difficult to obtain a loan or subsidy for restoration or maintenance. The measures taken by the minister largely involve smarter use of resources that would become available for monument care. This can be done by adjusting the funding system within the accounting possibilities. The House of Representatives has also made additional funds available for the maintenance of large church buildings.
With these funds, the maintenance scheme for non-residential national monuments will be increased. Additionally, the loan possibilities for restoration, maintenance, and sustainability will be expanded. The focus remains on encouraging planned maintenance to prevent expensive restorations and irreparable decay.
Restoration of Large Monuments
In the case of large-scale overdue maintenance, it is necessary to restore monuments. Examples of current large restoration tasks include the Riviera Hall of Diergaarde Blijdorp, Castle Nijenrode in Breukelen, the Town Hall of Middelburg, and the nearly completed aquarium of Artis.
These restorations are complex, take a long time, and require customization. Within the current funding system, these monument owners often miss out. Due to the redistribution of the Ministry of OCW, an additional €100 million will be made available for large monuments. €45 million of this will go to a national subsidy scheme for the restoration of large monuments, €45 million will be made available for an additional loan opportunity for large monuments through the National Restoration Fund (NRF), and the existing loan opportunity for restoration will be increased by €10 million.
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Maintenance
For the ongoing maintenance of non-residential national monuments, owners can receive a subsidy. This includes, for example, painting historical components or repairing masonry and joint work. Until now, more owners have needed a contribution than there was money available. As a solution, an additional €15.8 million per year for maintenance is now coming, resulting in a total amount of €103 million per year available. This will allow more monuments to be maintained. The expectation is that the demand in the scheme will be resolved by 2027 or 2028.
Of the increase of €15.8 million, €5 million is earmarked for large church buildings, following the amendment by Bontenbal et al. This ensures that these special buildings are well maintained.
Within monument care, windmills have a special position due to faster wear and tear from moving parts. To allow the windmills to operate safely, ongoing maintenance is needed, and parts must be replaced regularly. The maintenance scheme for windmills consists of a fixed maximum amount that, to compensate for inflation, will rise from €72,500 to €95,000.
Other Measures
Other measures announced by the minister in his letter include the increase of the Sustainable Monument Loan (DML+) by a total of €50 million. He does this together with the Minister of VRO. The program Future Religious Heritage will also be extended by four years. Finally, both the Windmill Fund and the Farm Fund will receive a one-time subsidy of €2.5 million.