Dutch architectural heritage in danger

Today there are still plenty of traditional Dutch houses from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in the Hudson Valley (New York, New Jersey, Delaware). The houses are built of mud brick and also of natural stone; all once inhabited by Dutch families. They are often located in beautiful scenery and, in some cases, have become museums. Still, the Dutch architectural heritage in the Hudson Valley is slowly disappearing and threatened with extinction, due to neglect, haphazard renovation, and demolition. In addition, the thick wooden beams, now antique, and the authentic brick modules with which theses houses were built are prized by antique dealers and architects. Fortunately, there are a number of groups that make a case for the preservation of the area’s Dutch heritage, including these structures, such as The Society for the Preservation of Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture (HVVA) and The New Netherland Companions. http://www.nieuwnederlandheritage.info

http://www.nieuwnederlandheritage.info