Vision of religious heritage
The vision religious heritage of the Municipality of Opsterland focuses on church buildings that were originally built for religious use, which means that in this vision a church building is a building realized by or by order of a religious society for the purpose of communal confession of faith. The vision of religious heritage is not only about redevelopment, but about all situations in which church buildings can end up.
Traditionally, churches have been an important landmark in the landscape. For centuries, churches have functioned as a connecting link in the community, in village life and within cities. Despite society's appreciation for the cultural-historical richness of church buildings, there are also concerns. These concerns are mainly about the continued existence of church buildings. Developments in society are leading to a decline in church attendance and involvement in denominations is declining, raising questions about the future image of church buildings. Not only are churches becoming increasingly empty, church owners' incomes are also declining, putting pressure on the maintenance and upkeep of a church building. Such factors can lead to the closure and disposal of a church building, and eventually even lead to its demolition. The challenge for us as a congregation and society is to ensure that church buildings remain a sustainable place where we go for inspiration, reflection and encounter.
