Delta Commissioner presents BNG Heritage Award to the city of Bergen op Zoom
Today, Delta Commissioner Wim Kuijken presented the BNG Heritage Award to the city of Bergen op Zoom during a festive gathering in Kampen, the winning city of 2013. The winner receives a sum of 25,000 euros. The award is aimed at challenging cities to incorporate cultural history and heritage on a wide scale into their policies and policy implementation.
In his lecture prior to the award ceremony, the Delta Commissioner emphasised the importance of the connection between heritage and water. ´Working on water safety and a sufficient supply of fresh water entails, as a minimum, a sound adaptation in terms of landscape and a process involving not only the various government authorities but also all the stakeholders. The measures relating to water safety and securing the freshwater supply offer opportunities for re-focusing on existing heritage and strengthening our spatial identity.’
‘The Delta Programme adds a new layer to our water history. The stories that exist, the know-how on dealing with water that has been amassed over the centuries, and the visible objects and constructions built by previous generations constitute the basis and the source of inspiration in this new layer. My warmest congratulations to Bergen op Zoom, a city that harbours ambitions not only with respect to heritage but also in the domain of water, on winning this important award.’