Cultural sponges: Past and present uses, meaningsand legacy of raised bogs in the Low Countries

Summary

Raised bogs - virtually treeless wetlands growing upwards on dead plant remains - once covered large parts of the Netherlands. Since the Middle Ages, they have largely disappeared due to peat mining. Across north-western Europe, efforts are now made to restore bogs because of their natural values and because living bogs capture CO2. As a result, they may contribute to climate solutions.

Very nice, those bogs. But what about their image of dangerous, inhospitable wetlands that were shunned? On the other hand, their exclusive use was heavily contested among surrounding village communities. This raises questions about the various place meanings of bogs for people.

In my research, I explored these questions and linked them to historical bog functions (peat extraction, border areas). Certainly where raised bogs were once most intensively used, a rich collection of cultural traces appears to be preserved in the landscape, even where the peat has disappeared altogether. Residents identify with these traces of previous generations. I suggest involving local residents more directly in the management of bog remnants, also to increase support for large-scale bog restoration.