Paper short abstract:

The paper focuses on the region-specific reconstruction of farmhouses in the Netherlands after World War II. It describes and analyses the controversial debate on tradition and modernisation that arose in this context and discusses to what extend the desire for tradition can be ascribed to World War II and the often traumatic experiences of destruction and loss.

Paper long abstract:

Between 1940 and 1945 more than 8,000 farmhouses sustained extensive war damage in the Netherlands. The paper focuses on the reconstruction of these farmhouses. It describes and analyses the controversial debate on tradition and modernisation that arose in this context. The reconstruction efforts masterminded by the Dutch government were aimed at modernisation. However, the new buildings were given a traditional region-specific appearance following the farmer's and preservationist's demands. The paper discusses to what extend the desire for tradition can be directly ascribed to World War II and the often traumatic experiences of destruction and loss.