(Re-)generating symbolic port-city links: Urban regeneration and the cultural demaritimisation and remaritimisation of european port cities

Urban policies in many European port cities have displayed attempts to diversify the local economy and rebrand the city within interurban competition. Whilst these processes have been commented upon in relation to their socio-economic and spatial outcomes, little research has engaged with their connection with the maritime nature and exceptionalism of port cities. With examples from urban development and regeneration strategies in two European port cities, Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and Valencia (Spain), this paper elaborates on the concepts of demaritimisation and remaritimisation of port cities from a cultural perspective, to support the argument that, in some cases, these strategies have been underpinned by attempts to overlook, restore or depart from the city’s maritime identity, history and heritage. These efforts by policy makers aim to overcome the perceived ‘disadvantage’ of the port city image or to create and promote different, not necessarily authentic, relationships with the port and the sea to brand the city.