National heritage sites are historical buildings, archaeological sites or man-made green structures like parks. Because of their cultural historical value, these are protected by the national, provincial or local governments.
The Netherlands offers a wide variety of monuments. The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed | RCE) researches and writes recommendations about (among others): agrarian heritage, funeral sites, protected townscapes, interiors, castles and estates, military heritage, wind mills, Post 65 heritage, religious monuments and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) world heritage.
The RCE designates cultural property as national heritage sites on behalf of the minister of Education, Culture and Science, grants subsidies for restoration and conservation, manages the register of national heritage sites, and advises municipalities on radical changes of national heritage sites.