De Nederlandse natuurbeschermingsbeweging: continu en dynamisch

Samenvatting

The Dutch Movement for the Conservation of Nature: Continuity and Dynamics. This article analyses the concept of nature as constructed and transformed by the nature conservation movement in the Netherlands. The movement was founded in 1880. It is shown that during this century the movement changed its approach several times. Both in the 1930s and the 1970s the relationship between nature conservationists and their main opponent, the agricultural organisations, became problematic, resulting in the rise of new ideas (conservation). These changes were interconnected with alternative practices, new organisation structures and new groups entering the conservation movement. Intellectuals played an important part in the realisation of changes. Nature conservation has some continuous elements such as the idea of a pristine nature and the nature reserves (natuurmonumenten). So, despite the interpretative flexibility of the concept of nature, not all interpretations are possible any more. The conservation movement has its own body of knowledge, ideas and practices which act as a selection filter.