The cultural strategy of Rotterdam

The cultural strategy of Rotterdam

culture

Europe

politique culturelle

port

tourisme urbain

ville

city

cultural policy

port city

uncultural image

urban tourism

Géographie

Systèmes ; modélisation ; géostatistiques

Espace ; société et territoire

Géographie : politique ; culture et représentation

Épistémologie et méthodes

ost:Environmental studies; Geography & Development

isi:Geography

isi:Urban studies

This paper deals with the cultural policy and strategy of Rotterdam, in particular with regard to its designation as 'European City of Culture' for the year 2001. Having been a port and manufacturing city for many years, with a large proportion of lowly educated people, the city's first goal has been for many years to ameliorate the cultural climate of the city to the benefit of its residents. Since 1987, however, this cultural policy more and more received a market-oriented emphasis. The eternal rivalry with Amsterdam, the absolute cultural capital of the country, and the expectation that a cultural image would enhance the attractiveness of the city for economic investments, are the main factors in this reorientation. Rotterdam's prospects in the market of international urban tourism are, however, weak, because this city does not possess an attractive historical core. Therefore, modern architecture has become the trademark of Rotterdam.

Buursink, Jan

UMR 8504 Géographie-cités

1999-05-12

en

article

http://cybergeo.revues.org/1203