European Heritage Label

What is the European Heritage Label?

The European Heritage Label makes the European history and symbolic value of buildings and places visible. The label is an action of the European Union. 

The heritage sites (buildings and places) that qualify for a European Heritage Label are not only important in their own country, but also in a European context and are attractive to a wide European audience. They are symbolic beacons in Europe. The label should increase mutual understanding between European citizens and give European citizens more insights into current Europe and the common cultural heritage.

The following forms of heritage (including contemporary heritage) are eligible for the European Heritage Label:

  • buildings;
  • natural, underwater, archaeological, industrial or urban sites;
  • cultural landscapes;
  • places or remembrance;
  • cultural objects and objects and intagible heritage insofar as they are linked to a specific place.

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What is the difference with UNESCO World Heritage? 

There are several sites that have both a recognition as European Heritage site and UNESCO World Heritage. Both labels can co-exist and are rather complementary to each other. The European Heritage Label is about the shared history and culture of Europe that a place propagates. UNESCO World Heritage, in turn, is about the physical heritage that is unique worldwide and has universal significance. The European Heritage Label is about the unique story and the role that the Colonies of Benevolence have played in the European history.

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