Countryside heritage: better a good noaber than a distant friend?

The concept of noaberschap ('neighbourliness') is very trendy at the moment; it can be found in political programmes, songs, podcasts and more. This age-old form of manners is mostly found in rural areas in the north and east of the Netherlands. Noaberschap consists of a set of unwritten rules that define how neighbours interact with each other. But what do these rules actually entail? Can everyone be a noaber (neighbour)? And what if people decide not to participate in noaberschap?

Noaberschap is an example of intangible cultural heritage and contributes to people's identity. But heritage is also about power and politics. Why do people consider these very traditions important? And who actually gets to decide what is or is not heritage? A critical look at noaberschap shows that heritage not only contributes to inclusion and diversity, as often thought, but also to conflict and exclusion.

Please note: this mini-lecture will be held in Dutch.

Please note: The festival programme, including the exact starting time of all events and activities, will be online at the beginning of September.

Speaker

Mariska van der Velde, MA