Stories Around the Heritage Cabinet: An Interactive Traveling Exhibition on Heritage and Sustainable Building

From Friday, October 2, through Saturday, October 10, 2026, the Municipality of Kerkrade will host the ’t Kirchroa va Mörje Festival. Nine days of events, each focused on looking ahead and doing our part. Because ’t Kirchroa va Mörje starts today! During one of these events, however, we’ll take a look at the past, the present, and the future.

What is the Heritage Cabinet?

How can historic sites and traditional building techniques contribute to a sustainable future? The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, in collaboration with various partners, developed the “Erfgoedkast”: an interactive, traveling exhibition.

The Heritage Cabinet tells the story of heritage and craftsmanship. One half is made of wood, reed, and clay. The other half is built of brick. All components are handcrafted using traditional techniques. In this way, the cabinet demonstrates how bio-based construction and the restoration of historic monuments can reinforce one another.

The cabinet resembles a filing cabinet that you can explore on your own. Pull open the drawers, feel the different materials, look at real-world examples, read more about the topic, and take an audio tour. This way, you’ll discover the connection between historic monuments, the landscape, and craftsmanship—in the past, present, and future.

Practical information

Date
, Thursday, October 8, 2026

Time
, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (or 6:00 p.m., if that is the correct end time)

Location
HuB Kerkrade – Mijn Streek Library Kerkrade Reading Café Martin Buberplein 15, Kerkrade

Admission to the
is free, but you must register in advance via the festival website.

Program

  • 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – Drop in for coffee and vlaai. Afterward, you’ll explore the Heritage Cabinet in small groups with storyteller Pim Bastian (Biobased Creations) and Jill Vervoort (Project Manager for Heritage, Sustainability & Circularity at RCE).
  • 2:30 p.m. – Pim shares a number of fascinating stories from the Heritage Cabinet. He shows how bio-based construction, historic monuments, the landscape, and the region are all interconnected.
  • 3:00 p.m. – Jill Vervoort and Ineke Lemmen (biobased advocate and inspiration) will discuss “Opportunities for Heritage: Making Historic Buildings More Sustainable.” 
  • 4:00 p.m. – Inspiring examples from the region. Featuring, among others, Brasserie Nieuw Ehrenstein, St. Theresa’s Church in Ransdaal, and St. Bavo’s Church in Nuth, presented by experts from each location.
  • 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. – An additional opportunity to view the Heritage Cabinet in small groups and receive an explanation.

Sign up

For more information and to register, visit the website of the 't Kirchroa va Mörje festival.