Leeuwarden Cultural Capital 2018: Building a sustainable event

In this chapter, the case study focuses on Leeuwarden, a city in the Netherlands, and how it is integrating sustainability into the preparations towards the delivery of a responsible 2018 European Cultural Capital Event, in order to leave a legacy to the city, the region and future European Capitals of Culture. Overall the festival sector stimulates the Dutch economy with revenue of about €675 million. The festival sector has therefore an important economic role. In the last few years the sector has become increasingly aware of its environmental and social impact and several festivals have deployed a variety of initiatives to mitigate any negative, and enhance the positive, impacts.