History In The World

The first Doors Open Days - La Journée Portes Ouvertes - was held in France by the Ministry of Culture in 1984. The following year, the French Minister of Culture proposed that the Doors Open concept be adopted by the Council of Europe. In 1987, the Netherlands held their first Open Monumentendag. The enthusiasm was contagious and in 1989, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland joined and Belgium in 1990. In 1990, Ayr and Glasgow hosted the first Doors Open events in Scotland.

By 1991 Doors Open Events were united as European Heritage Days at the initiative of the Council of Europe. Each year, more and more countries in Eastern and Western Europe take part. Presently, over 20 million people go to European Heritage Days.

The movement has spread outside of Europe, with events taking place in Canada, the USA, Australia, and other nations.

• Doors Open Lowell, Massachusetts
• European Heritage Days
• Doors Open Scotland
• Wales Civic Trust
• England Heritage Open Days
• London Open House