Heritage combines the three topics that move me most: culture, history and people. Separately and combined, they intrigue, inspire and invigorate my professional life. My approach to heritage is fluid and dynamic: while heritage links us to the past, it is simultaneously part and parcel of, and an inspiration for, the present and the future.
Acknowledging heritage as the result of human (inter)action inevitably implies an interest in social aspects related to heritage. In order for heritage to live on, it needs to be cared for and used by people. Therefore, questions such as ‘To whom is this heritage relevant, and why?’, ‘What does this imply for/affect this particular heritage?’ and ‘How does this heritage contribute to society today?’ are not only relevant but essential when I think about and deal with heritage.
The areas of heritage that fascinate me most are architecture, planning and (performing) arts. What makes these fields so appealing – apart from their aesthetics – is their development and their interaction with, influence on, and reflection of, societies and societal activities.
