On behalf of the Minister of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), the Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) has officially started the designation program for fifteen new, young national monuments from the Post 65 period.
The story of the Netherlands 1965-1990
The developments and associated stories from the Post 65 period have formed the basis for a list of nearly 1,500 locations compiled by heritage associations, municipalities, citizens, and experts over the past years. The now selected fifteen locations provide insight into what Post 65 monuments can be and together illustrate the story of the Netherlands during the period 1965-1990.
They are all unique in their kind. Protecting them now is necessary; appreciation often comes later,” said Susan Lammers, general director of the RCE.
From the barrier-free Rodahal in Kerkrade to the colorful high-tech station Lelystad Centrum, from a brutalist highlight in the southwest of the country to a Cold War time machine in the northeast. From the largest water tower in the Netherlands (Eindhoven) to a world-renowned landscape artwork in Emmen: these objects are exemplars of the Post 65 period (1965-1990).
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Designation
The designation procedure for national monuments is carried out by the RCE, on behalf of the Minister of OCW. During the designation procedure, opinions can be submitted. Subsequently, the intention to designate each object is submitted to the relevant municipality and province. A formal decision follows within six months.
The fifteen Post 65 objects
These are the following national monuments to be designated:
- Ecocathedral, Mildam (1965)
- Rodahal, Kerkrade (1966)
- Water tower the white balls Eindhoven (1970)
- Broken circle/ Spiral hill, Emmen (1971)
- Building Electrical Engineering, Delft (1972)
- Central Administration, Apeldoorn (1972)
- City Hall, Terneuzen (1972)
- The Kasbah, Hengelo (1973)
- Eemsmond building, Delfzijl (1973)
- Yunus Emre Mosque, Almelo (1974)
- Blue Waves, Arnhem (1977)
- Emmaus Church, Nieuwegein (1977)
- Hubertus House (Mother House), Amsterdam (1980)
- The Musketon, Utrecht (1984)
- Station Lelystad Centrum (1988)
Post 65: heritage of progress
The period 1965–1990, also known as Post 65, was one of economic boom, social experiments, and democratization. New cities, residential areas, highways, green spaces, artworks, and public facilities sprang up across the Netherlands. The state, municipalities, and citizens invested in a future-oriented Netherlands.
The RCE initiates the Post 65 designation program to appreciate these still young buildings, artworks, and landscapes as full-fledged heritage. With the designation as a national monument, they receive maximum protection and are preserved for future generations. The fifteen mentioned objects form a first selection. More will follow in 2026.
The selection shows the full breadth of the zeitgeist: from citizen activism and inclusion to a changing religious experience. For example, the Yunus Emre Mosque in Almelo is the first mosque in the Netherlands with a dome and minaret, and the Emmaus Church in Nieuwegein is a symbol of the democratization of churches. Blue Waves in Arnhem symbolizes the integration of art into public space, and the Ecocathedral represents the emergence of environmental awareness. The selection also includes landmark works by architects such as Jaap Bakema (city hall Terneuzen) and Herman Herzberger (Central Administration), Aldo van Eyck (Hubertus House), and an experimental residential area on stilts: the Kasbah by Piet Blom.
The detailed explanations and valuations per object can be found on this website.
National monuments
National monuments are buildings, objects, or sites of national importance due to their beauty, history, or scientific value. They tell the story of the Netherlands and are protected to ensure they remain for future generations. In the Netherlands, there are over 63,000 built and archaeological national monuments.
Exhibition
Starting this autumn, the exhibition The youngest national monuments of the Netherlands will travel through municipalities and cultural institutions. The public is invited to discover, appreciate, and protect Post 65 heritage. The opening will be in the autumn at the city hall of Terneuzen.