Project background

A group of organisations from different European countries concerned with the future of Atlantic Wall heritage met in the city of Caen in 2016 to discuss the opportunities of greater European collaboration with similar organizations across Europe on key policy issues. Five coordination meetings between interested parties to found a more integrated cooperation followed in 2017: two in Ostend/Raversyde, one in Brussels, one in The Hague and one in Caen/Douvres-la-Délivrande.

All parties present at these meetings agreed that there is a strong wish to educate European generations on shared history and shared values, to exchange knowledge, and to collaborate in order to do so. It was also agreed upon that a European network of Atlantic Wall partners would provide the structure to realise these aims, and beyond that, would offer further opportunities for common educational, cultural and touristic activities.

Together it was decided that a candidature for the Creative Europe call ‘small cooperation agreement’ for the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 was to be set up.

A new European network will be established: Atlantikwall Europe. A European cooperation for sites and organizations interested or working in Atlantic Wall and citizenship issues.