Discusses the way historic buildings in the Netherlands are being classified as national monuments during the 20th c. by the Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg, or its forerunner. The Voorloopige Lijst ('Preliminary list') was published between 1908 and 1933; in 1981 the automated Monumenten Registratie Systeem was set up, which became since 1994 gradually replaced by the Objecten Data Bank. ;