Zenica hosts conference on industrial heritage and urban reindustrialization

The University of Zenica and the Eco Forum Zenica Association hosted an international conference titled ‘The Anti-City Guide: Reindustrialization of Zenica and Preservation of Industrial Heritage.’ The event focused on how the city can navigate its industrial transition by preserving its historical identity while fostering sustainable future development.

A photographic exhibition titled ‘Fragile! Handle with care’ was opened by Henk van den Dool, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The exhibition compares the industrial landscapes of Zenica with those of Heerlen, a Dutch mining city that underwent a major transformation approximately 50 years ago.

Participants and artists, including Dutch artist Maurice Hermans, discussed the lessons learned from Heerlen’s experience. While Heerlen largely removed traces of its mining past, the conference highlighted how abandoned industrial infrastructure can be repurposed for modern urban needs, such as using underground water from former mining sites for city heating, rather than being treated solely as a burden.