International visitors: Liveable historical cities

Historical cities around the world face many challenges: development, increasing population density, polution, gentrification and tourism are only a few of those challenges. How can we make sure these cities remain inclusive and pleasant places to live in?

Focal theme
The historical inner city is defined as one of the three focal themes of the Shared Cultural Heritage Programme, part of the Netherlands' international cultural policy. From 9 to 13 October, DutchCulture and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) are facilitating a visitors programme on the topic of liveable historical cities. Eight urban heritage professionals from Sri Lanka, Russia, Japan, India and Indonesia have been invited to share and exchange their experiences and challenges. These professionals have the opportunity to learn from each other, learn from Dutch professionals, and Dutch professionals will be able to learn from our visitors.

Guests
We are welcoming from Sri Lanka: Ms Deepanie Jayasooriya (Senior Architect at Aerocity Project, Ministry Of Megapolis and Western Development) and Ms Varuni Jayathilake (Assistant Director of Architecture and Director of Maintenance at the Department of Archaeology). From Russia: Ms Maria Sedletskaya (Advisor at Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation) and Ms Narine Tyutcheva (Head Architect at architecture firm Rozhdestvenka). From Japan: Mr Daiki Nagakawa (Secretary General at the Japan and the Netherlands Architecture Cultural Association). From India: Mr Rajiv Patel (Founder of THREEE FOUNDATION - the Heritage Research foundation for Economic Ecosystem Enterprise, Ahmedabad). And from Indonesia: Mr Doni Widiantono (Deputy Director at Ministry of Agrarian and Spatial Planning) and Mr Jonny Wongso (Lecturer at Magister of Architecture, Postgraduate Program of Bung Hatta University, Padang).

The programme consists of visits to organizations and institutions in Amsterdam, Amersfoort and Rotterdam, such as Stadsherstel Amsterdam, Dutch National Monuments Organisation and Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Also part of the programme are workshops, in which the visitors are stimulated to exchange the challenges they face in the historical cities in their respective countries.

On Thursday 12 October, from 15:00 to 17:00 hrs, the visitors will discuss their challenges and debate topical international issues at a public event at DutchCulture in Amsterdam. You are welcome to attend this free event, the event is in English. Please register in advance.