Starting June 16, maritime archaeologists from the Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) will inspect and maintain shipwrecks in the archaeological national monument Burgzand Noord in the Wadden Sea. Earlier in June, caretaker minister Bruins announced measures for a future-oriented approach to maritime archaeological monument care in Dutch waters. On June 26, the caretaker minister of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) will visit Texel and the Wadden Sea.
Inspection
From June 16 to July 11, four shipwrecks will be further inspected and maintained in the national monument Burgzand Noord near Texel in the Wadden Sea. These are Burgzand Noord 3
(BZN 3), Burgzand 8
(BZN 8), Burgzand 10
(BZN 10), and Burgzand 17
(BZN 17). Archaeological research has been conducted in this national monument, where 16 shipwrecks from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries lie, since the 1980s. It has been shown that when sites are exposed, they deteriorate rapidly due to natural erosion and sometimes human actions. To protect these shipwrecks, a method has been developed to temporarily cover wrecks with scaffolding mesh. Although this is effective, it is crucial that maintenance is performed regularly, as fishing or anchoring of ships can damage it.
Future-Oriented Approach
In the letter to Parliament dated June 3, caretaker minister Bruins announced four measures for a future-oriented approach to maritime archaeological monument care:
- Strengthening the role of municipalities and provinces: €3 million will be made available through the Heritage and Government program to establish regional partnerships. Specifically around the Wadden Sea and the Zeeland Delta, and to support initiatives that contribute to a better embedding of underwater cultural heritage in the policies and implementation of municipalities and provinces. Examples include archaeological value maps focused on waterbeds or improving the local enforcement chain.
- Collaboration between volunteers and professional archaeologists. €0.8 million will be allocated for projects where volunteer and professional archaeologists work together to inventory, research, and/or manage underwater cultural heritage. The Ministry of OCW will also engage with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) regarding limitations in diving regulations that currently make collaboration underwater between volunteers and professional archaeologists impossible.
- Temporary increase in the work budget for RCE. For the period 2026-2028, the work budget of the RCE will be increased annually by €0.5 million for measures to protect shipwrecks and for additional research, but also to work on the ratification and implementation of the UNESCO convention for the protection of underwater cultural heritage from 2001.
- Funding for large underwater excavations. There is no significant structural budget available for a large underwater excavation. However, a one-time additional budget of €1.5 million will be made available for a future excavation. Co-funding by other parties will also be considered.
Visit to Texel and National Monument
On Thursday, June 26, caretaker minister Bruins will visit Texel and the Wadden Sea. At Museum Kaap Skil, he will receive a tour and talk with volunteers. He will also be further informed by maritime archaeologists on the work ship of the RCE about the inspection and maintenance of the shipwrecks in the national monument Burgzand Noord.