Cultural Village of Europe 1999
Netherlands

In 1999 Wijk aan Zee made the network of eleven European villages. At once the village got a big amount of contacts in many countries of Europe. This network is the base of the movement of Cultural Villages now.
In the same year eleven European Sculptors had a symposium and made a sculpturepark A Sea of Steel.
The village organized an international Filmfestival with films about villages and a competition for photographers on the theme Villageportrait.

An important centre of initiatives in Wijk aan Zee has been Hotel Sonnevanck. Now Wijk aan Zee coordinates the activities of the Cultural Villages and is the official Seat for the Charter of the Villages.

In 1999 Wijk aan Zee learned again the charm of the hospitality of the table. Since this year a few times a year the people of the village eat together with their guests. In summer at the beach, and in winter the first saturday of the year in the Moriaan, just to say: happy new year.

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