The research is prompted by growing attention to the bond people experience with specific places in the landscape. It is precisely in situations such as tree felling or the degradation of natural areas that the depth of this attachment becomes clear. For many people, such places carry deep emotional and sometimes spiritual significance. At the same time, these relationships are under pressure due to ecological crises such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Moreover, spatial planning policy pays little to no attention to the spiritual dimension of the landscape.
Van der Ziel examines how this sense of connection relates to ideas about ‘the sacred’ and spirituality. In doing so, he draws inspiration, among other sources, from the work of Thomas Merton, who explicitly linked spirituality with nature. By combining insights from theology and geography, he aims to better understand how people attribute meaning to their living environment and whether this involves reference to something that transcends them (the transcendent, God).
Central to the research is the question of where and how people in contemporary society experience the sacred, and whether such experiences can contribute to a more sustainable relationship with the Earth. The project includes literature review, fieldwork, and conversations with individuals about their experiences of meaningful places.
With this research, Van der Ziel aligns himself with a broader societal search for meaning and a renewed relationship with nature and the living environment.
