CASE | Heritage data accessible to the public

The heritage sector is in the midst of a digital transition. Collections are being digitized at a rapid pace, metadata is being standardized, and the National Strategy for Digital Heritage is focused on open data and interoperability between institutions. The goal is clear: heritage must be accessible to everyone, regardless of prior knowledge, interest, or context. Now and in the future. But this does not answer the core question: how do you translate that digital infrastructure into actual public significance? In "Walking on Clogs through the Dessa," we collaborate with Network War Sources to use heritage data as a carrier of a physical, immersive experience in Vlissingen, The Hague, and Amsterdam.

"Walking on clogs through the forest, you invitingly let your own story seek itself."

The Volkskrant

"Immersive theater draws the audience from their plush seats."

NRC

Historical Sources as the Basis of Experience

The experience tells the story of Dutch conscripts who were involved in the decolonization war in Indonesia between 1946 and 1949. The source material, derived from various collections of the Network War Sources, consisted among other things of: diaries and letters, photographs, maps, and field reports. Life-sized replicas were integrated into the scenography. Visitors could pick up documents, follow routes, and view information independently.

Immersive Theater Setup

The performance took place in an immersive theater setting. There were no seats and no fixed walking route; visitors moved freely through the space and determined their own perspective on the story. Visitors experienced the poignant story of life in the tropics, surrounded by a three-dimensional 360-degree set.

Insights for the Heritage Sector

This approach yielded a number of relevant insights:

Heritage data becomes more meaningful when visitors can engage with it rather than just taking it in.
The level of engagement increases when visitors can determine how they want to follow the story.
Due to the personal relationship many visitors have with the subject, the format acted as a catalyst for recognition and emotion.
Despite the complexity of the theme, the experience remained accessible and informative, even without prior knowledge.

The Conclusion

Walking on Clogs through the Dessa shows that the value of heritage data does not solely lie in digital accessibility, but in the way it is applied in public design. By not only showing historical sources but making them an experience, heritage transforms from information to experience. The combination of physical context and open data creates a strong form of education.