Enhancing the Outstanding Universal Value assessment practices of Willemstad

Abstract

Like any other city, World Heritage (WH) Cities have a constant need for development. The challenge is to accommodate the needs of society without compromising their cultural significance, without compromising their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). New interventions in architecture and urban development and the absence of dynamics pressure properties inscribed at the WH list. These dynamics bring new challenges to urban heritage conservation, especially because instead of enhancing, these developments are often jeopardizing the OUV of WH Cities.In order to reconcile the development and conservation of these protected zones, their potential impact on the OUV needs to be assessed in a more systematic and objective manner. This paper proposes enhancements to the OUV assessment practices undertaken at the WH City ofWillemstad, Curayao, Netherlands Antilles, by revealing the management process, the cultural values and significant attributes, as well as, its current threats.