More about Action Willemstad

CHRONOLOGY

MORE ABOUT

"ACTION WILLEMSTAD"

CHATA industry award 1998

for "Action Willemstad"

The "Action Willemstad" started in November 1988, with the protocol of co-operation between the Governments of the Island Territory of Curaçao, the Netherlands Antilles and The Netherlands.

Since then many actions were organized to reverse the spiral of decay of Willemstad, with the aim to have Willemstad included on the World Heritage List during the Decade of Cultural Projects of UNESCO (1988 - 1998) which aim has been honored on December 4, 1997.

2001 - The maintainence of this site is sponsored by DDI - Design&Development Intl.

1989

1990

1991/1992

1993/1994

The Inter-regional Committee Action Willemstad (ICAW) was established with the specific aim of stimulating and promoting preservation activities in the Historic Area of Willemstad and to prepare its nomination for the World Heritage List.

The Historic Area of Willemstad has been adopted by UNESCO as project no.112 within the framework of the Decade for Cultural Projects.

The Government of the Netherlands Antilles promulgated the National Monuments Ordinance as framework for legislation to establish by the individual Island Governments.

The Island Government of Curaçao formally accepted the Monuments Plan as principle preservation policy and promulgated the Island Monuments Ordinance of Curaçao and the Register of Monuments.

An international symposium and exhibition of the Historic Area of Willemstad was organized in the Royal Palace in Amsterdam under the aegis of H.M. the Queen of the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

The Island Government of Curaçao established the Monuments Council as independent advisory body for the Curaçao government.

Amongst others on request of the Netherlands Antilles, the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed the Convention for World Heritage of UNESCO.

The Curaçao Monuments Fund (SMF) was established for the necessary financing of the restoration programs and projects by private enterprise or individual owners of monuments. The Fund itself is financed by Public-Private investment.

The Willemstad Rehabilitation Corporation (NV. Stads herstel) was established to restore historic buildings. One of the reasons for this establishment was to initiate projects in low-development areas to create a spin-off effect.

The policy as laid out in the Monuments Plan was implemented by being operational of all the organizations, legislation and (financial) programs by government and private institutions and companies, involved in the conservation of Historic Willemstad.

H.M. the Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands opened an exhibition about the Historic Area of Willemstad at the Headquarters of UNESCO in Paris.

The ICAW started the process and preparation for nominating the Historic Area of Willemstad for inclusion on the World heritage List of UNESCO. The executive office on Curaçao prepared the request to place the Historic Area of Willemstad on the Tentative List for World Heritage.

Establishment of the ICAW, March 28, 1989 The Hague NL

1995

1996

1997

1998/1999

The Governments of Curaçao and the Netherlands Antilles approved the request of the ICAW to place the Historic Area of Willemstad on the Tentative List

A workshop "Willemstad, World Heritage?" was organized by the ICAW with the participation of Curaçao expertise and stakeholders.

The World Heritage Center accepted the request of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to place Historic Willemstad on the Tentative List for World Heritage. The procedure for the final nomination had started.

The ICAW started the pre-paration of the document for the final nomination of Historic Willemstad for inclusion in the World Heritage List.

In co-operation with the Dutch UNESCO-committee and the Dpt. for Preservation of Monuments, the ICAW presented the final report for the World Heritage nomination of Historic Willemstad to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which presented it to the World Heritage Committee on June 30.

In December an expert of ICOMOS visited Curaçao for an evaluation of the nomination

Unveiling of the memorial

left to right: Vanderharten (ICAW) Betrian (Gvnr Curacao) Saleh (Gvnr NA) Römer (Fm. Gvnr NA, ICAW)

In may 11 - 16, a Design Seminar with international participation was organized by the ICAW on Curaçao, on the development of Historic Willemstad in the context of the nomination for World Heritage. Participation on the field of urban planning, architecture, heritage preservation and socio-economics came from Curaçao, The Netherlands, Canada, Venezuela, Surinam and Aruba.

On December 4, 1997, the World Heritage Committee in its 21 session in Naples, Italy, has decided to include the "Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour on the World Heritage List of UNESCO

End of the DECADE FOR CULTURAL PROJECTS of UNESCO

Although the original mission of Action Willemstad seemed to be fulfilled with the inclusion on the World Heritage List, there is still much to do. The inclusion needs a follow up, to bring Willemstad de facto on the level, that it can compete within the family of World Heritage Cities.

The ICAW-NA organizes an education project to involve the young people. The education day in December 1998 has Willemstad, World Heritage, as special theme.

In January 1999 the Island Territory of Curaçao declares the date of September 8 as World Heritage Day and becomes member of the Organization for World Heritage Cities (OWHC)

For the occasion of the first WH-day a special memorial on the foremost Bastion of Fort Amsterdam has been unveiled by the Governor of Curacao in the presence of the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles.