How do we utilize the city's existing qualities for a vital future? How do we reverse the growing threats that are making themselves felt in all historic cores? What is the economic significance of heritage for a city that wants to move forward? What opportunities and limitations does heritage offer for the design challenges we are constantly grappling with? Heritage plays an increasingly prominent role in the development of the contemporary city. It is proving an important location factor for a new generation of city dwellers, for emerging businesses in the service and creative industries, as well as for recreation and tourism. At the same time, unbridled urban growth is putting increasing pressure on historic inner cities. It is therefore time for a new orientation to the historic city. Heritage As an Asset for Inner City Development draws on the vast experience of faculty and participants in the Urban Heritage Strategies course and takes you on a fascinating journey to eight cities around the world: Accra, Jaffna, Moscow, Paramaribo, Pretoria, Pulicat, Recife and Surabaya. Each city has a historical connection with the Netherlands in its own way. This book is the result of the first Urban Heritage Strategies course, organized by the Cultural Heritage Agency , the IHS - Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam.