FAQ

The Implementation of Directive 2014/60/EU in the Netherlands

Publication date: 17.02.2017

Santander Art and Culture Law Review, 2016, 2/2016 (2), pp. 103 - 118

https://doi.org/10.4467/2450050XSR.16.021.6129

Authors

Marja van Heese
Cultural Heritage Inspectorate P.O. Box 16478 NL-2500 BL The Hague The Netherlands
All publications →

Titles

The Implementation of Directive 2014/60/EU in the Netherlands

Abstract

The Implementation Act for Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects was published in the “Netherlands Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees” in June 2015. Even though this new instrument represents a considerable enlargement of the protection of cultural heritage in the EU, its implementation has not led to major changes in Dutch legislation. The implementation of the previous Council Directive 93/7/EEC of 15 March 1993 already resolved the impasse in the Netherlands over a reasonable balance between the interests of original owners and those of innocent purchasers. With the 1992/93 adjustments to Dutch law the most important steps for accepting the 1970 UNESCO Convention were also taken. The Netherlands’ definition of protected works of art is in accordance with the criteria of a cultural object as stated in Article 2(1) of Directive 2014/60/EU. At the same time, facilitating a greater awareness of due diligence and research into provenance is high on the Dutch agenda, as they are considered important aspects in the fight against illicit trafficking in cultural objects.

References

Act of 9 March 1995 amending some laws in connection with the obligation to return cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State of the European Union or another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, Staatsblad 1995, 145.
Act of 12 June 2009 implementing the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property adopted in Paris on 14 November 1970, Staatsblad 2009, 255.
Act of 4 June 2015 amending the Civil Code and several other laws to implement Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State and amending Regulation (EU) No. 1024/2012 (28 May 2014, OJ L 159/1), Staatsblad 2015, 225.
Act of 9 December 2015, Relating to the Combining and Amendment of Rules Regarding Cultural Heritage (Heritage Act), Staatsblad 2015, 511.
Biondi A., The Merchant, the thief and the citizen: the circulation of works of art within the European Union, “Common Market Law Review” 1997, Vol. 34. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 1081/2012 of 9 November 2012 for the purposes of Council Regulation (EC) No. 116/2009 on the export of cultural goods, OJ L 324, 22.11.2012, p. 1.
Cornu M., Renold M., New developments in the restitution of cultural property: alternative means of dispute settlement, “International Journal of Cultural Property” 2010, Vol. 17.
Council Directive 93/7/EEC of 15 March 1993 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State, OJ L 74, 27.03.1993, p. 74.
Council Regulation (EC) No. 116/2009 of 18 December 2008 on the export of cultural goods, OJ L 39, 10.02.2009, p. 1.
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3911/92 of 9 December 1992 on the export of cultural goods, OJ L 395, 31.12.1992, p. 1. 
Council Regulation (EU) No. 168/2012 of 27 February 2012 amending Regulation (EU) No. 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, OJ L 54, 28.02.2012, p. 1.
Cultural Heritage Preservation Act of 1 February 1984, Staatsblad 1984, 49.
Cultural Property Originating from Occupied Territory (Return) Act of 8 March 2007, Staatsblad 2007, 123.
Decision of 8 December 2015 designating Cultural Heritage Inspectorate as the central authority within the meaning of Directive 2014/60/EU, Staatscourant 2015, 45561.
Decision on export of art treasures of 1977, Staatscourant 1977/95.
Dimitrova A. L., Steunenberg B., The power of implementers: A three level game model of compliance with EU policy and its application to cultural heritage, “Journal of European Public Policy”, 19 September 2016, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13501763.2016.1223156?journalCode=rjpp20 [accessed: 12.12.2016].
Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State and amending Regulation (EU) No. 1024/2012, OJ L 159, 28.5.2014, p. 1.
Dutch Civil Code (consolidated version), http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005291/2017-01-01 [accessed: 31.01.2017].
Dutch Code of Civil Procedure (consolidated version), http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001827/2016-07-01 [accessed: 12.12.2016].
Dutch Penal Code (consolidated version), http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/2016-07-01 [accessed: 12.12.2016].
Economic Offences Act of 22 June 1950, Staatsblad 1950, K258, as amended.
Explanatory Memorandum, Dutch Heritage Act, Kamerstuk 2014-2015, 34 109, No. 3.
Explanatory Memorandum, approving the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property adopted in Paris on 14 November 1970 (Kamerstuk, 2007-2008, 31 256 (R 1836), No. 3), English translation: http://www.unesco.org/culture/natlaws/media/pdf/netherlands/netherlands_approvalconv1970_memo_engtof.pdf [accessed: 12.12.2016].
Explanatory Memorandum, Cultural Property Originating from Occupied Territory (Return) Act of 8 March 2007, English translation: http://www.unesco.org/culture/natlaws/media/pdf/netherlands/netherlands_memo_returnoccupiedterritory_engtof.pdf [accessed: 12.12.2016].
Explanatory Memorandum, Implementation Act for Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects, Kamerstuk 2014-2015, 34 097, No. 3
Explanatory Memorandum, UNESCO Convention on the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property Implementation Act of 12 June 2009, English translation: http://www.unesco.org/culture/natlaws/media/pdf/netherlands/netherlands_implementationact_conv1970_memo.pdf [accessed: 12.12.2016].
Foreign Exchange Control Decree of 10 October 1945, Staatsblad 1945/F 222.
Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro Convention, 2005), 27 October 2005, CETS No.199.
Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 14 May 1954, 249 UNTS 240.
Heese M. van, The Implementation of the 1970 UNESCO Convention in the Netherlands, a Legal and Practical Approach, “The Cambrian Law Review” 2011, Vol. 42.
Horst N.M. van der, The Dutch Ratification of UNESCO: Implementation Acts and the Protection of Cultural Property, “Art Antiquity and Law” 2010, Vol. 15. 
http://icom.museum/resources/red-lists-database/ [accessed: 10.09.2016]
http://www.digitalecollectienederland.nl/ [accessed: 13.09.2016].
ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, 4 November 1986, last version: 8 October 2004, http://icom.museum/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/Codes/code_ethics2013_eng.pdf [accessed: 12.12.2016].
Italian Republic v. Museum of Antiquities Leiden, Judgment of the Court in The Hague, 9 June 2004, Nr. 02/3321. 
Loman A., Mortelmans K., Post H., Watson S., Culture and Community Law, Before and after Maastricht, Kluwer Law and Taxation Publishers, Deventer, Boston,1992.
Monuments and Historic Buildings Act of 23 December 1988, Staatsblad 1988, 638.
Nafziger J.A.R. , Paterson R.K. (eds.), Handbook on the Law of Cultural Heritage and International Trade, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham – Northampton 2014.
National Museum Services (Privatisation) Act of 24 June 1993, Staatsblad 1993, 398.
Nicholas T.J. II, EEC Measures on the Treatment of National Treasures, “Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review” 1993, Vol. 16.
Project Guidance for customs controls over the export of cultural goods. The project shall be executed under the Programme Customs 2020 (proposal number 645), by Directorate-General TAXUD-B1 (Brussels, 11 April 2016).
Protocol for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 14 May 1954 (First Hague Protocol), 249 UNTS 358.
Rechtbank Amsterdam, Beschikking, RK: 14/2951, 16 October 2014.
Regulations of 6 December 2012, on Material Management of Museum Objects, Staatscourant 2012, 26 235.
Reports from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee, Report on the application of Council Directive 93/7/EEC on the return of objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a member state: COM (2000) 325 final, COM (2005) 675 final, COM (2009) 408 final, COM (2013) 310 final.
Sanctions Act of 15 February 1980, Staatsblad 1980, 93, as amended. 
Sjouke P.S., Het behoud van cultuurgoederen, twee werelden, twee visies, Ars Aequi Libri, Nijmegen 1999.
Sjouke P. S., Internationaal Recht, Museumrechtwijzer, Juridisch handboek voor musea, Amsterdam 2000.
The decision to assign this task to the Inspectorate was published in the Government Gazette on 16 December 2015, Staatscourant 2015, 45561.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (consolidated version), OJ C 326,6.10.2012, p. 47.
UNESCO Convention on the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property Implementation Act of 12 June 2009, Staatsblad 2009, 255.
UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, 14 November 1970, 823 UNTS 231.
UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen of Illegally Exported Cultural Objects, 24 June 1995, 34 ILM 1322.
United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 1483, 22 May 2003, UN Doc. S/RES/1483 (2003).
Viantro V.J., Protecting Cultural Objects in an Internal Border-Free EC: The EC Directive and Regulation for the Protection and Return of Cultural Objects, “Fordham International Law Journal” 1993, Vol. 17.
Vingt ans après avoir été volée, ‘Ecce Homo’ fait son retour à Beauvais, “Le Parisien”, 24 Septembre 2015.
Wissink M.H., De reikwijdte van het cultuurgoederenregime in Boek 3 BW, Weekblad voor privaatrecht, notariaat en registratie, SDU, jrg. 129 nr. 6321, The Hague 1998.

Information

Information: Santander Art and Culture Law Review, 2016, 2/2016 (2), pp. 103 - 118

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:

The Implementation of Directive 2014/60/EU in the Netherlands

English:

The Implementation of Directive 2014/60/EU in the Netherlands

Authors

Cultural Heritage Inspectorate P.O. Box 16478 NL-2500 BL The Hague The Netherlands

Published at: 17.02.2017

Article status: Open

Licence: None

Percentage share of authors:

Marja van Heese (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English