Heritage of human-animal relations

Edwin van der Veldt researches representations of human animal relations in the heritage field. How were animals presented in the heritage field, and in what way does this display the many different ways humans related to the natural environment and its non-human inhabitants? Acknowledging the role animals had in shaping history (and heritage) results in a more inclusive, multi-species approach to heritage.  

Edwin’s current research interest is the history and heritage of factory farming in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands intensive factory farming is a major factor in current social challenges ranging from climate change, biodiversity restoration, food security, water-shortage, public health, animal welfare and public landscaping. Political leaders, farmers and farmers associations, NGO’s and citizens each refer to their own versions of this contested, shared past, and claim their opponents lack a thorough understanding of the history of factory farming in the Netherlands. How can heritage-professionals engage in this discussion, and facilitate interactions for a meaningful exchange of ideas? 

Edwin van der Veldt 
Edwin van der Veldt is a cultural historian and researcher at the Reinwardt Academy. As a teacher of Cultural History and Heritage Theory he teaches about the history of collecting and museums, inequality, racism, heritage and landscape, analytical and critical.