Heritage organisations in the Netherlands express concern over the demolition of over 95,000 pre-World War II buildings in the past decade, driven by the push for energy efficiency. This rush to make buildings more sustainable leads to the destruction of thousands of characteristic homes.

Karel Loeff, director of heritage association Erfgoedvereniging Bond Heemschut, argues that while demolition may be cheaper, prioritising sustainability preserves valuable and characteristic aspects of Dutch history. The issue extends beyond major cities, impacting suburbs and smaller towns, where historic buildings are replaced with high-density housing, raising questions about the erasure of cultural heritage.

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