All about the International Canal Conference

 

The World Canals Conference -held every year- is the focus point of all that is going on around old and new canals. From the 19^th till the 24^th of September 2011 government agencies, companies , and tourism organizations are in Groningen together to discuss the latest developments around this issue.

The Netherlands have rich traditions in the management of water, the protection against water, and the transport over water. The northern part of The Netherlands is a perfect example of the past and the present of canals. Canals were of vital importance for the transport of peat and the economical development of the region. The city of Groningen was for centuries the geographical, political, governmental, and economical centre of the northern canal system. Most canals are now a tourism honey pot that crosses borders with Germany.

Apart from plenary and working group sessions the conference also puts heavy emphasis on visits to waterways and water related heritage sites in the three northern provinces and is also crosssing border with water management and canals in Germany. Foreign guest can also subscribe for a post-conference tour visiting other parts of The Netherlands. A true Journey to the Bottom of The Sea!

The aim of the conference is the sharing and the securing of knowledge on water management, the revitalization of historical objects, the care for nature, and ecology. It will result in a ‘Declaration of Groningen, Waterways-Ways of Value’. On the European level all partners united in WCC 2011 will take action for the revitalization of waterways, to ensure the transmission of knowledge, and to prepare proposals to the authorities in charge of canals. The theme’s of the conference includes economy (transport and tourism), ecology, (water management en the protection of nature), cultural history (protection and re-use), special development (revitalization) and technology (infrastructure and the quality of water).

All about the conference is to be found at www.worldcanalsconference2011.nl.