From Lessons Learned to Integrated Crisis Management: The Impact of the July 2021 Floods on Belgium’s Cultural Heritage

The July 2021, floods in Belgium highlighted the vulnerability of cultural heritage to climate–related disasters and the urgent need for improved disaster risk management. This article, developed within the CHrisis project (2022–2024), analyses lessons learned from this disaster and their application in building heritage resilience. The study identifies key gaps in preparedness and coordination between heritage professionals and emergency services. The absence of an integrated management framework and a central point of contact resulted in a fragmented response. Thanks to the initiative of the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK–IRPA) and its partners, significant progress has been made, including the establishment of the Heritage Crisis Committee and the gradual integration of the heritage sector into national crisis management mechanisms. The article presents recommendations to enhance resilience, including strengthened intersectoral coordination, the development of adapted methodologies, and the implementation of emergency funding mechanisms. The ultimate goal is to improve the capacity of the cultural heritage sector to respond effectively to future crises in the context of increasing climate risks.