On Monday, April 7, a symbolic moment took place at the historic Volmolen in Amersfoort: the official transfer of the distribution of the well-known monument shields to the Netherlands Monumentenland Foundation. Since January 1, 2025, this foundation, commissioned by the Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE), has been responsible for the national distribution of the characteristic shields that make monuments recognizable.
[Text continues below the image]
The official presentation of the shield to the Volmolen was performed by Susan Lammers, general director of the RCE, and Bert Boer, director of the Netherlands Monumentenland. Councilor Rutger Dijksterhuis was also present on behalf of the municipality of Amersfoort, owner of the monument. Nathalie Cassee received the shield.
The monument shield is a powerful symbol. It makes our heritage visible and tangible. That fits perfectly with our mission: to connect people with monuments
, said Bert Boer during the press moment.
Amersfoort as a City of Monuments and Makers
The Volmolen, a former water mill from 1645 where woven wool was felted into clothing fabric, formed a fitting backdrop for this official moment. Once built for the textile industry, the building has now taken on a new cultural purpose. Nathalie Cassee, tenant of the monument and founder of De Katoendrukkerij, was present to show how the heritage is being utilized in a contemporary way. In her studio, she brings the craft of cotton printing to this historic place. The Volmolen now stands as the only remaining full mill in Amersfoort, symbolizing the centuries-long textile industry in the city. A unique combination of tangible and intangible heritage.
Councilor Dijksterhuis (Heritage, monuments, and archaeology): With more than 500 national monuments, over 150 municipal monuments, and numerous heritage organizations based here, Amersfoort is the heritage city of the Netherlands. An important way to preserve heritage and monuments for the future is to give them a contemporary purpose. With respect for the past. National monument the Volmolen is a beautiful example of that.
New Phase, Familiar Image
The ANWB has been committed for decades to the distribution of the monument shields. With the transfer of this task in 2025, the responsibility now lies with an organization that primarily focuses on connecting people and monuments.
Monument owners can request their shields from the Netherlands Monumentenland Foundation via https://www.nederlandmonumentenland.nl/monumentenschildjes/.