Section II: Summary of the Periodic Report on the State of Conservation
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State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II like cannot be found elsewhere in the Dutch West or East Indies. Punda represents a dense and NETHERLANDS compact historical urban structure, reflecting its origin as a fortified town surrounded by ramparts. Pietermaai and Scharloo enjoy the relative freedom Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner of space resulting in an open layout of streets lined City and Harbour, Netherlands by detached and quite often luxurious dwellings, Antilles while Otrobanda features both an open compound layout and a dense alley structure alike. Brief description The urban structure and architecture of the Historic Area of Willemstad are both authentic examples of The people of the Netherlands established a trading colonial town planning and architecture of the settlement at a fine natural harbour on the period of Dutch expansion. Its cultural and historical Caribbean island of Curaçao in 1634. The town significance not only stems from its town planning developed continuously over the following and architectural qualities as a historic port town, centuries. The modern town consists of several but is manifest even beyond the local level. distinct historic districts whose architecture reflects not only European urban-planning concepts but Within the Caribbean Region, the inner city and also styles from the Netherlands and from the harbour of Willemstad share a common cultural Spanish and Portuguese colonial towns with which history with other counterpart cities in the region, Willemstad engaged in trade. such as Old Havana, San Juan Historic Site, Carthagena Port town, the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, and other cities of French and English 1. Introduction origin. This common history of colonial European Year(s) of Inscription 1997 origin, seemingly strange, is expressed in an astonishing diversity in cultural heritage within the Agency responsible for site management region. Together with the historic cities and sites mentioned above and already included in the World • The Government of the Island Territory of Heritage List, Willemstad belongs to a distinct Curaçao (in cooperation with the Rijksdienst category of cities which form a regional system of voor de Monumentenzorg (RDMZ – cities linked by the cords of a common cultural Netherlands Department for Conservation history, each with a distinct expression of its own. Broederplein Apart from its other qualities, this particular aspect • (since 1st November 2006: of the nominated area is testimony to the Netherlands Department for Archaeology confirmation of the Caribbean Region as a cultural Cultural Landscape and Monuments – RACM and historical entity. This is just one of the aspects (Rijksdienst voor Archeologie that identifies its position as a historic port town of Cultuurlandschap en Monumenten) outstanding universal value. Broederplein 41 3703 CD Zeist) The unique setting in a natural harbour makes The Netherlands Willemstad a historic port town of great distinction. e-mail: [email protected] The character is enhanced by the fact that its four website: www.curacaomonuments.org historic urban districts were established on different flat and sloping sites separated by the natural waters of Sint Anna Bay and Waaigat. Rather than 2. Statement of Significance being elements of separation, these natural waters link the historic urban districts of Punda, Otrobanda, Inscription Criteria C (ii), (iv), (v) Pietermaai and Scharloo and integrate them into an exciting townscape of colourful façades along Justification provided by the State Party stretches of lively quays, and even a “water plaza” The Historic Area of Willemstad stands out for the (Plaza Brion). This setting distinctly qualifies the diversity in the historical morphology of its four Historic Area of Willemstad as a rare example of a historic urban districts (Punda, Otrobanda, historic port town laid out in a setting of natural Pietermaai and Scharloo). The city’s historical waters. architecture is of a strikingly genuine and colourful The strength of this complex of cultural properties - European origin set in a tropical environment. Its core area, transmission areas and buffer zones - is State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II that its urban structure and architecture outstanding value and integrity, which illustrates the conspicuously reflect the subsequent stages of organic growth of a multicultural community over historical development over the course of centuries. three centuries and preserves to a high degree The city can be easily read and used as a textbook significant elements of the many strands that came for its historical and cultural development. With together to create it. Punda, Sint Anna Bay and Otrobanda forming the Session (1997): the Committee decided to inscribe historic core area, Pietermaai, Scharloo and Kortijn this site on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iv) and represent historic transmission areas expressing (v), considering that the Historic Area of Willemstad the historical continuity of Willemstad. is a European colonial ensemble in the Caribbean Both the historical urban fabric and the historical of outstanding value and integrity, which illustrates architecture have proved to be durable elements the organic growth of a multicultural community over more than three centuries. These have been over three centuries and preserves to a high degree able to survive the effects of continuous social and significant elements of the many strands that came economic development. together to create it. With this, the Historic Area of Willemstad universally stands out as a type of city which • Statement of Significance does no longer genuinely demonstrates continuity in historical and adequately define the outstanding universal social-cultural development over a course of value of the site centuries through an authentic historical urban • Proposal for text has been made by State Party structure and architecture. Boundaries and Buffer Zone As provided in ICOMOS evaluation • Status of boundaries of the site: adequate • Buffer zone: adequate Qualities: the Historic Area of Willemstad is an exceptionally well preserved example of a Dutch Status of Authenticity/Integrity fortified colonial trading and administrative centre. It • World Heritage site values have been is an admirable illustration of the transfer of maintained European urban and architectural traditions into the New World, and distinct in the evidence that it 3. Protection provides of its Dutch ancestry from contemporary Spanish, Portuguese, English, or French Legislative and Administrative Arrangements settlements around the Caribbean. • The site is protected as a ‘townscape’ within the Island Wide Zoning plan. The monuments It does not contain any outstanding individual within the site are protected by Law (Island buildings or structures. Its importance resides in the Monuments Ordinance) urban fabric and the townscape, with their blending of European and Caribbean elements to create a • The protection arrangements are considered colourful and culturally dynamic whole. sufficiently effective Recommendation: that this property be inscribed on Actions taken/proposed: the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria ii, iv, • A plan has been developed to counter-act the and v: collapse of various protected monuments through lack of maintenance; various The Historic Area of Willemstad is a European bottlenecks (legal, financial, organizational) are colonial ensemble in the Caribbean of outstanding being listed and solutions are being presented value and integrity, which illustrates the organic • No specific timeframe growth of a multicultural community over three centuries and preserves to a high degree significant elements of the many strands that came together to 4. Management create it. Use of site/property • Urban centre Committee Decision Bureau (June 1997): the Bureau recommended the Management/Administrative Body Committee to inscribe this site on the World • No steering group Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iv) • No site manager has been appointed but a and (v). The Historic Area of Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage working group is in European colonial ensemble in the Caribbean of State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II place since April 2002 that could also function • Visitor facilities: visitor information centre in the as a ‘monitoring group’ site. These facilities are considered inadequate • Level of public authority who are primarily • Visitor needs: more information (panels) at the involved with the management of the site: local Mega Cruise terminal, the airport and all • The current management system is not entrances (when coming by car) to the World effective Heritage site • No tourism management plan Actions proposed: • Discuss the appointment of a site manager to make a management plan and have overall 10. Scientific Studies control of this management plan • Monitoring exercises; Impact of World Heritage designation 5. Management Plan • Studies used for design of action plan for the preservation of monuments; for criteria defined • No management plan in the Island wide Development Plan to check new infill projects in the historic urban structure 6. Financial Resources Financial situation 11. Education, Information and Awareness • State Budget and Regional budget (Dutch Building Government and Island Government); funding • Not enough signs referring to World Heritage from private