City marketing 2: One size does not fit all!

In the last blog I wrote about how tourists often have an interest in European history of the World Wars (witness the number of documentaries made about the subject). This is one of many examples of how tourist-information texts should not necessarily just be translated, because the visitor from England, Canada or the US likely has different interests than most Dutch people. 

 In this blog I give an example text, here for the fictive place Hoeheetiedam (What’sitcalled-embankment).

• Hoeheetiedam played host to a huge numbers of Belgian refugees during World War I.  Tent camps were set up in the Onzeburgemeester Park—currently a pleasant place to picnic in the eastern part of the city—and there were enormous logistical challenges involved in the care, feeding and education of hundreds of destitute indefinite-stay guests.  

• During World War II, with the assistance of French troops, the area around Hoeheetiedam was valiantly defended against the Germans, and it remained free for months even after the Netherlands had surrendered.  During the occupation, several citizens, including Abel Verzet, worked underground to assist the Allies. Captured and executed in 1943, a statue dedicated to Abel’s memory is seen in the historical city square (Grote Markt).  This is an ideal place for shopping or to have a cocktail on the terrace of one of the many restaurants and cafes. 

• Hoeheetiedam was located on the fly route for the British Royal Air Force and thus the Germans had snipers stationed at strategic places outside the city. There is a monument next to the Vaargoed River dedicated to the many members of the air corps who lost their lives in the area. The monument is on the route of our cycling map, for further information, see….

• Finally liberated in the spring of 1945, months later than most of the Netherlands, the citizens of Hoeheetiedam were naturally overjoyed to meet the victorious Canadian troops although the feelings must have been bittersweet:  allied poor judgment had largely caused this delay.  There is a memorial commemorating the liberation at the train station, which is located close to the tourist information office (VVV). 

• Only eight years after liberation Hoeheetiedam was inundated in the North Sea flood of 1953, suffering extensive damage and killing hundreds of citizens. A multilingual film and exhibition concerning this disaster is in the Watersnood Museum located in nearby Oostdorp. 
  

With a few appropriate illustrations and links for further information, this text brings a few key historical episodes to life without going into the detail that might cause someone to “bounce“ directly back out of the site.  It also connects it to activities for the modern tourist in the same area.  This will hopefully pique a visitor’s curiosity and encourage them that there is a great deal to see and do in Hoeheetiedam so that they plan a more extensive trip than they might otherwise, and thus fulfills the primary goal of any city marketer!    

---