The Fortress Study Group are sponsoring a group of British students to visit the Netherlands and learn about the conservation of fortified sites. FSG is working with the Sustainable Conservation Trust who are organising the trip in conjunction with Dutch heritage organisation Monumentenbezit.

The trip is designed to help students understand how conservation decisions are made in practice. Students will be encouraged to think critically about technical, ethical, and material questions, including:

  • How to approach restoration where evidence is incomplete
  • How to decide between repair, reconstruction, and conservation
  • How historic colour, brickwork, timber, and masonry can be understood through close observation
  • How green management and heritage management can work together
  • How real site constraints affect conservation decisions

The aim is to give students direct exposure to the kinds of practical and professional challenges they will encounter in heritage conservation, architecture, construction, and cultural heritage management.

The students will visit the fortified city of Naarden, Brederode Ruins, Teylingen Castle, Hertogenbosch, Slangenburg Castle and a brick factory in Arnhem.

Students will compare Dutch and UK approaches, consider practical restoration dilemmas, and produce a written reflection and photographic booklet to share the learning with FSG and wider networks.

David Clarke, Fortress Study Group Chair said “We are delighted to support the Sustainable Conservation Trust in helping develop the next generation of conservation professionals and encouraging the study and appreciation of fortifications as important aspects of our heritage. Visiting the Naarden will give the students direct exposure to a major European fortified town where historic defences, landscape, interpretation, public access and adaptive reuse are managed together. This is highly relevant to UK fortifications, where similar issues must be balanced carefully".

About Sustainable Conservation Trust

Sustainable Conservation Trust’s wider fortification work focuses on the conservation, interpretation and adaptive reuse of historic fortified sites, particularly around Portsmouth, Gosport and the Solent. This area contains an exceptional concentration of military heritage, including Palmerston forts, coastal batteries, naval infrastructure and associated defensive landscapes. Many of these sites are nationally significant, but they face complex challenges around condition, access, public understanding, viable reuse, long-term maintenance and the loss of specialist conservation skills. SCT is based at the Grade II listed Old Pay Office in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where we run heritage skills, student learning and community engagement activities. Through our wider work and partnerships, we are connected with fortified heritage sites including Fort Gilkicker, Fort Brockhurst, Fort Cumberland and other Solent defence structures.

https://www.sustainableconservationtrust.com/ 

About Monumentenbezit

In 2016, the Dutch government divested itself of 29 monuments, which were placed under the management of a foundation, Monumentenbezit, via the National Monuments Organization. The foundation has existed since 2014 and acts as a national management organization for culturally and historically valuable buildings. Monumentenbezit manages a unique collection of monuments and face interesting and challenging conservation tasks. Virtually every type of monument is represented: churches, castles or estates, fortifications, ruins, houses, memorials and grave monuments.

https://monumentenbezit.nl/en/

If you would like to support future FSG Grants please consider giving a donation using the following link. 

FSG will match your donations up to a total of £3000 in each round with the aim of having £6000 to offer in grants.

FSG fundraising appeal

Grant Details

Title: Project entitled: Student Hands-On Learning Study Trip to Naarden and Dutch Heritage Sites June 2026

Recipient: Sustainable Conservation Trust 

Purpose – To sponsor a group of British students to visit the Netherlands and learn about the conservation of fortified sites.

Value – £1500

Co-funding – The grant represents c40% of the total project costs 

Date Awarded – June 2026

Expected project Duration – Anticipated completion August 2027