22 June 2010 - The Dutch newspaper Parool reports that the center of
Amsterdam will soon be declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The newspaper quotes UNESCO Director Kishore Rao who said that the official announcement will be made in July. People in Amsterdam responded with mixed reactions. Some were surprised because they thought the city was already on the UNESCO list, while others were pleased as the seedy image of "sex, drugs & rock n roll" would be replaced by a prettier image of "culture, museums & channels". Others were afraid that the status would only bring more tourists to the city and that the price of real estate would rise even further. One person expressed concern that the city would become an open-air museum, and no longer a place for people to live, love and die in. He said that the city should focus on the future and that the UNESCO declaration is something of the past. I am also not totally clear about the advantages of UNESCO declaration: blessing or curse?
2 comments:
reminds me of Venice or even closer... Macau... but then, I still think that it is for the better...
Exactly, but Venice or Macau? Hmmmm - they have lost all of their originality and have changed into commercial fairs. I am worried. Will you come to visit me in AMS?
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