Landscape vision northern Maas valley

Thousands of years of history have left many traces in the northern Maas valley on the border between North Brabant and Limburg. The river, Maasduinen, Maasheggen, river terraces, open fields and the pearl necklace of villages are tangible witnesses to how man and the landscape have adapted to one another in the past. It is a valuable cultural historical area, as can be seen from its designation as a Belvedere location by the government and the prominent place that it occupies in charts of the cultural historical values of the provinces of North Brabant and Limburg.

At the same time the northern Maas valley is the dynamic scene of all kinds of new developments – the reconstruction of the rural area, new possibilities for housing and working, the development of nature, space for the river, etc. Because of the lack of an overarching vision of the valley as a whole, there is the risk of developments getting in one another’s way and of qualities being lost. That is why the North Brabant regional authority and the local authority of Boxmeer have taken the initiative of inviting Strootman to draw up an overarching vision for the area.

The vision ‘Space for memory’ lays the basis for the development and management of the northern Maas valley from a cultural historical perspective. The main spatial quality in the vision is the possibility of experiencing the difference between the various landscape zones: between the river valley, the terrace ridges with their villages and the open arable complexes, the terrace plains, the drifting dune complexes and the brook valleys. In addition, a large number of specific proposals have been made for the recreational network, village extensions, the development of nature, etc. The vision also includes specific proposals for the management of the Maasheggen.

The vision has been produced under the thorough supervision of NovioConsult Van Spaendonck and Strootman Landschapsarchitecten. It is the fruit of collaboration with a large number of other parties, such as the Department of Public Works, Limburg regional authority, two water boards, five local authorities and a great many other parties such as intermediary organisations in the field of agriculture and cultural history, environmental organisations, private landowners, recreational entrepreneurs, site managers and local residents.

The result of this project is exceptional in two respects. It is a vision of high quality that both sets out the lines for the whole northern Maas valley and makes specific proposals for parts of that area. It is also exceptional in that, in spite of apparent differences between them, all of the parties involved are unanimous in declaring that the cultural history of the Maas valley matters to them and that we will make joint efforts to preserve and to develop it.