The job of traditional shepherd has been added to the official Dutch list of traditions by the Dutch cultural heritage centre VIE.

The Guild of Traditional Shepherds, whose members work with rare breeds of sheep, had applied for inclusion on the list because the job is a threatened part of the country’s national heritage.

‘Shepherds see their craft more as a way of life than a job,’ the VIE said in a statement.

The Zundert Bloemencorso flower parade, the Boxmeerse Vaart procession, the slow gliding style of Dutch skating and the Sint Maartens celebrations in Utrecht are among the dozens of traditions already included on the list.

The list is coordinated by the VIE and was set up in line with a Unesco convention. Later this year, the Netherlands will decide which traditions it will submit for inclusion on the international Unesco list.