The Regional Secretariat of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) for North Western Europe, based in Regensburg, Germany, invites World Heritage Cities' site-managers to the Regional Conference of the OWHC Region of North Western Europe that will take place in Beemster, Netherlands, from 12 to 14 September 2012.

The 40th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention will be the common thread of the conference. The first day of the conference will be dedicated to the host city and the delegates meeting. During the workshop moderated by the Regional Secretariat the first results and next steps from the Working Programme of the region will be presented. Participants will then have the opportunity to learn more about the local challenges and opportunities at a special “Beemster Afternoon”. In the evening participants are invited to contribute to a “Heritage Pecha Kucha”. Pecha Kucha is a presentation methodology in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each.
The second day of the conference will feature four presentations on several urban heritage-related subjects. The main topic “Management Plans” will be discussed from different points of view as well as the topic of “Structure and Implementation of Local Regulations”. On Friday a final presentation will focus on term and reading of “Outstanding Universal. Value”. Participants will then be invited to an excursion in the Beemster area including a workshop with the focus on “Policy in two crossing World Heritage Sites”.

For more information about the Conference, please contact Mrs. Susanne Hauer at  Hauer.Susanne@regensburg.de from the OWHC Regional Secretariat for Northwest Europe.