Organisers of Leeuwarden-Friesland’s year as a European Capital of Culture say that they are satisfied with the economic impact of LF2018: cultural events over the course of the year are estimated to have generated between 230 and 330 million euros for the province.
Translation by Traci White
With 5.4 million visitors to the province, 2018 was an extremely busy year for Friesland. Around 51 percent of people who attended LF2018 events were from Friesland, 42 percent came from elsewhere in the Netherlands and 6 percent travelled to the province from abroad.
The Leeuwarder Courant reports that 65,000 people – 10 percent of the total Frisian population – got involved as volunteers in the cultural events organised over the course of the year. The residents of the province gave the Capital of Culture year and its events an overall score of 7.4.
The best received event of the year was the three-day-long performance by the giant marionettes of the French street theatre group, The Giants of Royal De Luxe: 430,000 people attended the event, and attendees gave the event an overall score of 8.6.
A wide range of partners, including local governments, sponsors and funds, contributed to a total investment of 102 million euros throughout 2018. The agency that carried out the analysis of the financial impact of LF2018 – BBO – projects that Friesland will continue to reap the benefits of the Capital of Culture year for years to come. The researchers believe that the province will enjoy a raised profile when it comes to attracting tourists, will continue to have more turnover in the cultural sector and a better understood image of what it is like to work and live in Friesland.
