UNESCO World Heritage Day 2026

For 25 years, Zollverein has held UNESCO World Heritage status, and this milestone was celebrated in style on UNESCO Wold Heritage Day on June 7, with the opening of the new World Heritage Forum in Essen.

For me, however, Zollverein is much more than a World Heritage Site. It has also been the setting for some of the most memorable assignments of my professional life over the past two decades.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of:

• providing interpretation at the exhibition opening of 3D pop art artist Charles Fazzino at the Oktogon located on the Zollverein grounds

• facilitating executive meetings at Casino Zollverein

• translating and live-operating the supertitles during the live theatre performance of We Are Not Afraid of the Dark by Tine Van Aerschot at PACT Zollverein

• providing simultaneous interpretation at the International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA2010 RUHR) in the former miners’ changing rooms

• providing translation at the Forum d’Avignon Ruhr press conference in the SANAA building via a wireless whisperset

• working at the two-day Urban Arts Ruhr Symposium at PACT Zollverein

• providing simultaneous interpretation at the international conference Transforming City Regions at Erich Brost Pavillon, located 38 metres above ground with spectacular views across the Ruhr region

• joining the stage at the official ceremony celebrating 25 years of Industrial Heritage Route

• providing consecutive interpreting on stage for Mohamed Toukabri following his solo performance at PACT Zollverein

Few places combine industrial heritage, culture, and international exchange as uniquely as Zollverein. I am grateful to have been part of so many memorable moments there, and I hope the next 25 years will be just as inspiring.

Happy Birthday, Zollverein!