Captain, where can we find the attributes?

Every site that is listed as World Heritage comes with its own justification for inscription, explaining why this specific place is considered to be of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). This global cultural significance is to be described based on attributes, tangible or intangible, and their subsequent values. As suggested by the management approach indicated in the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, the management of such attributes and values should be integrated into a wider sustainable urban management framework. Though, how can they be properly included in such framework when most often, it is not clear where they are located exactly? In order to develop efficient management plans to manage cultural significance, a thorough understanding of what exactly reflects this outstanding universal value is required. The aim of this paper is, firstly to present the results of a research on systematically revealing and locating a selection of attributes of the Amsterdam Canal Zone, as described in the Nomination File (Kingdom of the Netherlands, Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam) and the Advisory Body Evaluation (International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Canal Area of Amsterdam). Next, some recommendations will be provided on how they can be integrated in the local urban management framework.