ABSTRACT
Monumentenwacht organisations are appreciated for their supporting role in preventive conservation. In The Netherlands, Monumentenwacht is active for more than 40 years and has been integrated in conservation practice. In this paper, an analysis of its modus operandi is presented, based on a qualitative multiple case study research. The underlying research question is how Monumentenwacht has influenced daily maintenance practice, and to identify its role in conservation practice. The findings were compared to the theoretical preventive conservation cycle of signalling, diagnosis, treatment, and documentation. The research indicated a paradigm shift from Monumentenwacht’s role of signalling problems and monitoring to being the main support for maintenance, in particular for private owners and for owners of non-iconic buildings. As influencing factors changes within the Dutch heritage care were identified, such as a decrease of support for diagnosis and treatment by conservation specialists, and an increase of owners directly approaching contractors.
