Europe cross-border congress

‘Inspiring across borders’

 

The first cross-border EFFORTS traveling network congress from 2 to 4 December 2025. The theme of this congress: ‘Inspiring across borders’. 

What to expect?

In two days time you will visit three EFFORTS Europe member cities in three countries and their fortified heritage developments.

  1. Arras in France is a member of the UNESCO Réseau des Sites majeurs de Vauban.
  2. Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands is a member city of Alliantie Zuiderwaterlinie and Vereniging van Nederlandse Vestingsteden.
  3. Oudenaarde in Belgium is a member city of Vlaamse Vestingsteden and the Wellington Barrier City Cooperation.

At the congress and while visiting the cities there is plenty of opportunity for conversations with city-planners and heritage experts working on a sustainable reuse of their fortified heritage in a European cross-border project space.

The program

DAY 0 – Tuesday 2 December: Arrival in Brussels, dinner together.

DAY 1 – Wednesday 3 December:

  • 8 am: transport to Oudenaarde and Arras from Brussels, with presentations in the bus.
  • 10 – 12 pm: stop in Oudenaarde for a city hall reception with presentations.
  • 12 – 1 pm: standing lunch at the citadel of Arras.
  • 2 – 4 pm: second part of the congress in Arras.
  • 5 – 6 pm: transport to Brussels, dinner together.

DAY 2 – Thursday 4 December:

  • 8 am: transport to Bergen op Zoom from Brussels, with presentations in the bus.
  • 10 – 12 pm: visit of Markiezenhof.
  • 12 – 1 pm: lunch at Markiezenhof.
  • 1 – 4 pm: visit of choice to: Fort de Roovere, the Verborgen Vesting museum or a city tour.
  • 5 – 6 pm: transport to Brussels, end of the congress.

More information on content and practicalities follows. If needed and if feasible, on a given day, a bus stop for a grouped members pick-up on the way can be arranged. Please contact us info@efforts-europe.eu.

REGISTER NOW

The congress is free of charge, courtesy of the participating cities and regional partners. Evening dinners are at own expense and participants are to organise hotels in Brussels themselves.

 

In cooperation with the cities of Bergen op Zoom and Arras