Rotterdam European City of Culture 2001

So Rotterdam has been chosen as European city 2015, which will obviously add to the tourism  of the city. However, it’s not the first time that the city obtains international recognition. This happened before in 2001 when the city, together with the city Porto, were chosen as European City of Culture 2001.

What is this European city of Culture?

This international title European City of Culture (ECOC) can be earned by cities that been through a large growth of cultural worth. Even though cities might have different motivations for obtaining the title, there is an overlapping motivation: the title always improves the international image of the city. This, in the end, will lead to growth of cultural activities which automatically leads to more visitors.

Rotterdam

So what has Rotterdam after having the title in 2001? The direct numbers after this year were 2.3 million visitors that joined the 524 activities that took place in that year. One in five day-visitors in that year came especially because of the title.

Next to that they have much cultural heritage left. Obviously this year didn’t only give a boost to the touristic numbers, but also to the cultural interest in the city. There were more sculptures placed in the public sphere, such as the sculpture route at the Westersingel.

But something also changed on emotional level, according to Bart van Meggelen, intendant during 2001. He says that the title has given the Rotterdammers confidence. The cultural year has worked as a symbolic completion of the reconstruction after the war. Perhaps this was exactly what was needed to become the European city of 2015!

Which Dutch city will follow?

Which Dutch city will be the next in obtaining the title European city of Culture? According to the latest news Leeuwarden(which is in the province Friesland) will be City of Culture in 2018.

Their cultural plan will be from 2014 up to 2019, with 2018 as peak year, in which they will have at least 40 large cultural events.

It’s definitely worth it to keep an eye on the festivities that will take place coming years in Rotterdam and Leewarden!

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