Activity Report no. 2 Septentrion 1. Name of Partner s-hertogenbosch City Council 2. This report is written by Huibert Crijns, project manager, hucr@s-hertogenbosch.nl, s-hertogenbosch City Council, PO BOX 12345, 5200 GZ s-hertogenbosch, Holland 3. Time period of report (dd/mm/yy) until (dd/mm/yy) 01/11/03 31/05/04 1 November 2003 31 May 2004 4. Describe the main project activities that have been carried out by you as partner s-hertogenbosch made major progress in carrying out their local project: the restoration of 17 century fortified walls with preservation of protected plants and animals. With the technological support of the University of Leuven / Louvan (Belgium) an innovative and cost saving restoration technique has been developed. This method is being tested in a pilot project in s-hertogenbosch and the first results are surprisingly good! The city also contributed the Septentrion start conference meeting in Lille, 9 & 10 December 2003 and the partner meeting in Luxembourg on the 26 th of May 2004. Besides that, various meetings and visits (on site) took place in this period and s-hertogenbosch organized study visits to disseminate the innovative approach with Septentrion partner cities such as to Maastricht and to Ieper / Ypres. 5. Has there been any change in the activities compared as to how they were outlined in the Application Form? The activities in s-hertogenbosch have not really changed, but they managed to speed up the carrying out of the works. Initially the investments were planned in year 2 ( 435.000,-) and 3 ( 593.000,-) and partly in year 4 ( 17.800,-). Now it turns out that the city is able to finish all their investments within year 2 (total of 1.045.800) 6. If there has been a change: what were the reasons for changing the activities? The changes (of speeding up the process) were very much due to the innovative approach of the restoration works. Instead of the traditional method of (partly) rebuilding the former defence structures stone by stone, s-hertogenbosch can keep the walls in its original status by an injection technique with the use of a specially balanced mortar of lime and cement. 7. Describe the outputs and results of the work The local restoration pilot project in s-hertogenbosch established technological innovations in the area of wet restoration that can be directly applied to the repair of ramparts in other partner cities. The s-hertogenbosch method not only corresponds very closely to the specific limiting conditions that apply to the restoration of fortifications in historic cities, it also produces a cost saving of up to 50% of the costs of a conventional approach.
8. Where have the activities been located (for example in which city)? The activities have been located on the south side of the historic city of s-hertogenbosch, between Saint Anthony s Fortress and Saint Anthony s Bulwark and along Park lane. 9. What have been the transnational features of the activities? By applying an integrated approach to the task s-hertogenbosch has acquired a great deal of expertise in handling highly complex urban reconstruction tasks. This experience makes them an expert partner in transnational networks of medium-sized historic cities and more specifically networks aimed at revitalising run-down regions of the city outskirts, and in projects within the context of cultural tourism and the spatial development connected with that. This enables Septentrion to bring about more agreement in the NWE area concerning critical issues relating to transnational spatial development. 10. How many transnational meetings have been arranged by you, who participated and where (in which city) were the meetings? None (to be filled in by the lead partner: s-hertogenbosch contributed (but not arranged) the Septentrion start conference meeting in Lille, 8, 9 & 10 December 2003 and the partner meeting in Luxembourg on the 26 th of May 2004.) 11. How many local and regional meetings have been arranged by you, who participated and where (in which city) were the meetings? s-hertogenbosch arranged in their city during the period of this report, 10 local meetings with all stakeholders (such as environmental groups, volunteers, private investors, citizens et cetera) and 5 meetings with partners in the Septentrion network (Maastricht and Ieper/Ypres). We held 2 meetings on location (one in Maastricht and one in the fortified city of Bergen op Zoom) with all our stakeholders and with the contribution of National specialist in the field of conservation and spatial development. 12. How have you, as partner in Septentrion contributed to the project? In order to find solutions for tackling this complex task, a number of technological innovations have been developed. The first of these concerns the approach to the problem. We have not opted for the usual approach: to reconstruct that which is old (in this planning area this concerns ramparts with buttresses and fortifications such as bastions and roundels), thereby affecting the legacy irrevocably, but to retain and protect as much historic material as possible for future generations. In addition, for the soil archive (archaeology), intervention in the subsoil had to be reversible. The approach also involved innovative use of traditional materials and techniques. The use of cement in restoration work has advantages (strength, durability) but also disadvantages. Cement has a destructive effect on existing wall vegetation and, even more importantly, this material hardens completely (hydraulic binder), which means that any subsidence resulting from increase in earth pressure, groundwater level or frost will cause cracks in the brickwork. In the past, lime mortar was used as a binding material. This material has none of the disadvantages of cement, but unfortunately also has none of the mechanical properties. For the restoration of the walls a balanced mortar mixture was used: a mixture of lime and cement (principle ingredients). This mixture was injected into the walls in liquid form, thus connecting wall
sections which, due to cracking or other causes, did not form one unit. Large-scale testing was carried out to determine the composition and viscosity (degree of fluidity) of the injection mortar. To do this core borings were made through the wall whereby the pressure strength and cohesion of the bore cores was measured. A number of knowledge institutes were involved in this development, such as the University of Leuven / Louvan, Grontmij and a number of specialist consultancies. For the reinforcement of the existing walls, the possibilities of the wall construction on site were used as much as possible. Assessment of the structural safety of historic ramparts, often old and with inadequate foundations, according to present day calculation methods reveals that most of these walls can no longer be preserved. Complete reconstruction or even new construction appears to be the only solution. In the s-hertogenbosch situation that is not the case. Research was carried out to see which walls (if any) are of sufficient strength, homogeneity and cohesion to withstand traffic, earth pressure and weather influences. For these measurements a non-destructive measuring method has been developed, whereby wall thickness and construction can be determined by measuring differences in electrical tension. The wall sections that were inadequately constructed were reinforced with injection and anchoring technology. This situational approach towards restoration produced a cost-saving of up to 50% compared to a traditional restoration method. 13. What different sectors have been involved and how have they contributed to the project? The broad approach of s-hertogenbosch to their task produces a contribution and involvement from small and medium-sized businesses, non-commercial and interest organizations and other planning bodies such as Water Boards and Provincial Authority. All sectors are directly involved in the planning process of the different local projects. The Water Board is also involved as a partner in the carrying out of some of the projects. 14. What different levels (local/ regional/ national/ transnational/ international) have been involved and how have they contributed to the project? The local business community is closely involved in the restoration and reorganization of the public space. Via a private organization (foundation), local entrepreneurs not only make a substantial financial contribution to the project, they also reflect social support for all the plans and projects in the historic city outskirts. Various volunteer organizations are actively involved in the project. One Local history society (2200 members!) organizes boat trips on the city canal (in 2003: 178,000 passengers) and city walks along the fortifications. The municipality has commissioned Nature and environmental organizations, such as the Institute for Nature Education and Birdwatch, to monitor ecological values on the ramparts. They provide us with an objective report of the effect of our innovative restoration on the existing flora and fauna. They identify species and carry out counts. A broad group of interested persons is represented in a sounding board group including the residents' association Liveable Inner City, the entrepreneurs' association Heart of Den Bosch and the Brabant Environmental Federation. Within the sounding board group there is prior consultation with regard to the future plans and projects in the old city outskirts. On a European level, the Septentrion partner cities of Bergues / Ville de Bergues and s-hertogenbosch are member of the European organisation of 150 Walledtowns, the Walled
Town Friendship Circle (WTFC). In this past period s-hertogenbosch joined 2 European partner meetings (in Waterford, Ireland and in Chester, U.K.). At the last occasion s-hertogenbosch was nominated: European Walled Town 2005. At both meeting presentations were given on the advantages of European cooperation between former fortified cities and the Septentrion was taken as a good example. 15. What contacts have been made to other projects or programmes? The partner city of s-hertogenbosch is very much involved in the related Interreg IIIB project Holding the Fort. Both projects share and change information. At the start conference of Holding the Fort in Mortsel (Belgium) two members of the Septentrion project (ms. Frigout from the CAUE and mr. Vanderghote, citt of Ieper, gave a presentation on the Septentrion project). As a partner in other Interreg projects, the city of s-hertogenbosch can instantly disseminate knowledge. The Interreg project Water in Historic City Centres. This title reflects the central role that water is increasingly playing in the (socio-economic and spatial) structural intensification of old city centres which have a historical relationship with water. Thereby in many NWE cities there is an increasing problem, but also a challenge, with regard to good water management. 16. What publicity and dissemination activities have been carried out and what have been the target groups? A number of activities have been carried out to communicate. Our target groups are quite different. We focus not only on citizens but also on entrepreneurs, not only on certain public and private bodies, but also on visitors and tourists. For all different target groups a Communication Plan has been developed with specific actions to reach the different target groups. To inform the citizens we placed advertisements in the local newspaper and we organized several meetings with the inhabitants. For the local entrepreneurs and for the non-commercial and interest organizations that are involved in the projects we bring out a special magazine on the proceedings of the project, called the Pamflet. To inform people on the integrated approach of the project a brochure was made both in Dutch and in English. s-hertogenbosch also prepared a movie in Dutch and in English of their project. This movie was shown for the first time at the Septentrion partner meeting on the 10 th of December 2003. 17. How have spatial development and urbanism issues been taken into consideration during this period? In times of reduced Government budgets for urban renewal in general and for restoration in particular, an active and therefore also financial involvement of third parties is an important condition for achieving the realization of projects in a historic city. In the local project s- Hertogenbosch acquired experience in fund-raising, in the involvement of the local business community and the deployment of volunteers instead of paid workers. Only a small proportion of the total project costs of any of the Septentrion partners can be financed with the ERDF contribution. The organization of a broad participation around the local project is therefore essential for a number of reasons. We can help our partners with the organisation of an active local network. The restoration of the strategic historic fortifications makes the city more attractive and contributes towards a sustainable urban development. The added value of this local project is an example of a creative form of management of the cultural legacy and an example of a project for improving the protection of the monumental legacy (objective 1 of measure 4.2, Interreh IIIB programme). In addition to economic prosperity (i.e. tourism), this local project also contributes towards the protection of the environment and ecological values (objective 3 of measure 4.2).
18. How have environmental, social, economic and cultural issues been taken into consideration and integrated in the project? Various numbers of volunteers are actively involved in the project: from the organization of boat trips on the city canals, to the determination and counting of birds and plants that live on the former defence structures (see also under no. 14 of this report). By applying an integrated approach to the task we have acquired a great deal of expertise in handling highly complex urban reconstruction tasks. The Septentrion project in s-hertogenbosch contributes to the awareness and recognition of the transnational dimension of urban spatial development. The local project contributes towards the improvement and protection of the monumental legacy (objective 1 of measure 4.2). In addition to economic prosperity (tourism), this project also contributes to the protection of the environment and ecological values (objective 3 of measure 4.2). The dissemination of innovative methods and technologies as an instrument ( trigger ) for inducing other fortified cities in North West Europe to make better use of strategic historic fortifications in and around the city. 19. Enclosures : description, number of pages/photographs, minutes, documents Enclosed: Brochure Past and Future of the March Dragon DVD (15 minute movie) Past and Future of the March Dragon Copies of Pamflet (only in Dutch), a magazine on the proceedings of the local project Weblinks with publications of the s-hertogenbosch / Septentrion project: www.s-hertogenbosch.nl the general website of the city of s-hertogenbosch in Dutch and English www.vestingwerken.nl The website of the local fortifications project in Dutch, French and English version) www.wihcc.nl This site contains information on the Interreg IIIB project Water in Historic City Centres www. planum.net/4bie/projects.htm (select the project of s-hertogenbosch). More than 40 cities joined the exhibition on the Rotterdam 4th Biennial. The projects presented were divided into 4 main themes. s-hertogenbosch was presented under the theme Cultural Heritage and the research of a balance between development and protection; www.cob.nl/schreudersprijs/cob.nl (select the s-hertogenbosch project). Website of the Dutch center for underground construction. One of the s-hertogtenbosch projects was nominated for the annual design price (Schreudersprijs voor ondergronds bouwen). www.belvedere.nu/projecten/ (select the s-hertogenbosch project) www.walledtowns.com/wtfc/towninfo/netherlands/hertogenbosch.html Website of Walled Towns Friendship Circle (WTFC) is the international association for the sustainable development of walled towns, walled cities and fortified historic towns.