New Dutch site joins the World Heritage List

Recently, members of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee convened to determine which nominations would be added to the prestigious list. A Dutch site was among them. MASTERS highlights some of the new additions.

Recently, the members of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee put their heads together to determine which nominations should be added to the prestigious list. Also a piece of Dutch pride. MASTERS highlights some of the new additions to the list. 

Eise Eisinga Planetarium | Franeker

The Eise Eisinga Planetarium is the oldest, still working, mechanical model of the solar system in the world. The idea came from wool manufacturer Eise Eisinga who ingeniously built it into the ceiling and bedside wall of his living room. The planetarium is located in a small house in the old city center of the Frisian town of Franeker and was built between 1774 and 1781. Gunay Uslu, State Secretary for Culture, calls heritage at its best: “The Royal Planetarium Eise Eisinga is heritage at its best. Unique, irreplaceable and it tells a special story that is also important far beyond the Netherlands. That is why I am very happy that the planetarium is now a UNESCO world heritage site." The Dutch Kingdom now has a total of thirteen world heritage sites.

Viking Ringforts | Denmark 

Five historic Danish ringforts have also been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List this year. The forts date from the years between 958 and 987. They were built under the reign of the Danish Viking king Harald Blauwtand and are characterized by their remarkable symmetry. 

Deer stone monuments and related sites from the Bronze Age | Mongolia

The so-called deer stones, on the slopes of the Khangai ridge in central Mongolia, were used for ceremonial burials. They date from about 1200 to 600 BC. and are sometimes up to four meters high. The deer stones are considered one of the most important surviving structures belonging to the culture of Eurasian nomads from the Bronze Age.