Els Slots

Netherlands \ Member since December 2005

#4 984 280 88

Since 1997, I have traveled extensively, focusing on World Heritage Sites (WHS), while working in ICT management. I quit in 2022, and since then, I have been dedicating all my time to WHS (including running this website) and WH travel.

Plans for 2025

  • Estonia in August.
  • A trip in Europe or the Middle East to get to 992 in September.
  • Big Trip to #1,000 (November/December).

Profile picture Els

Related Blog Posts
Recent Visits
  • 9
    0
    July 13, 2025
    WHC 2025: 17th Century Port Royal, Cambodian Memorial Sites, Megaliths of Carnac ...
  • 7
    0
    June 18, 2025
    Kenya Trip 2025: Fort Jesus, Gedi , Kenya Lake System ...
  • 3
    0
    May 7, 2025
    Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands , Khinalig, Schwerin Residence Ensemble
Completed Countries

About Els Slots

Member since
December 2005
Country of Origin
Netherlands
Visits
Rank
#4
WHS
984
Tentative Sites
280
Website Participation
Reviews
1098
Ratings

Ratings

World Heritage Sites
Tentative Sites
977 135
Photos
N/A
Locations
N/A
Zones
N/A
Reserved for members.

Reviews by Els Slots

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Thimlich Ohinga by Els Slots

Thimlich Ohinga (Inscribed)

Thimlich Ohinga

Even seven years after its inscription as a WHS, Thimlich Ohinga is still one of the 20 least visited by our members. Only three were there before me, and this …

Kenya Lake System by Els Slots

Kenya Lake System (Inscribed)

Kenya Lake System

It’s a miracle that this WHS is not In Danger, or that this issue is not being discussed. Since approximately 2015, the Kenyan Lake System has experienced severe flooding. The …

Lamu Old Town by Els Slots

Lamu Old Town (Inscribed)

Lamu Old Town

I stayed for two nights in a renovated traditional house along one of the narrow alleyways of the Old Town of Lamu. I enjoyed being woken up by the call …

Gedi  by Els Slots

Gedi (Inscribed)

Gedi

The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi gained World Heritage status last year – this is the first review since. Known as the Gedi Ruins, they are quite a …

Mount Kenya by Els Slots

Mount Kenya (Inscribed)

Mount Kenya

I have always wondered how a site that has been ticked by 63 members so far has only had one, tiny review dating back to 2006. I would guess that …

Mijikenda Kaya Forests by Els Slots

Mijikenda Kaya Forests (Inscribed)

Mijikenda Kaya Forests

The Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests along the East Coast of Kenya comprise former fortified settlements (kayas) in an undisturbed forest setting, which still fulfill a sacred role in the belief …

National Museum of Qatar by Els Slots

National Museum of Qatar (On tentative list)

National Museum of Qatar

I have a strong fascination for National Museums and every time I visit a “new” country, I try to take one in. What I am interested in is how countries …

Tatev Monastery and Vorotan Gorge by Els Slots

Tatev Monastery and Vorotan G… (Nominated)

Tatev Monastery and Vorotan Gorge

Seeing Tatev pop up as a potential WH candidate for 2028, I had to dive deeply into my memory for an opinion. Fortunately, I still have my diaries in …

Garni and the ‘Basalt Organ’ Columnar Joint  by Els Slots

Garni and the ‘Basalt Organ’ … (On tentative list)

Garni and the ‘Basalt Organ’ Columnar Joint

I visited this recent addition to Armenia's Tentative List in March 2005. It's actually surprising that it took them so long to put it forward, since Garni is one of …

Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands  by Els Slots

Colchic Rainforests and Wetla… (Inscribed)

Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands

The Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands, being a distinct Floral WHS, never appealed to me much. Still, it was a shoo-in in 2021 as IUCN easily confirmed its global significance (“one …

The mausoleum of Nakhichevan by Els Slots

The mausoleum of Nakhichevan (On tentative list)

The mausoleum of Nakhichevan

This TWHS is a good excuse to visit the Azeri exclave of Nakhichevan. Its peculiar geographical location may also improve its chances of ever getting nominated to a WHS, as …

Divrigi by Els Slots

Divrigi (Inscribed)

Divrigi

I am happy to be the first to review the Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği after restorations ended in May 2024. The complex lies uphill above the Old Town; …

The Ancient City of Nineveh by Els Slots

The Ancient City of Nineveh (On tentative list)

The Ancient City of Nineveh

Nineveh is yet another classic name on the list of Iraqi TWHS. Although it was present as a trade colony at the time of Ancient Mesopotamian civilizations early on, Nineveh’s …

Hatra by Els Slots

Hatra (Inscribed)

Hatra

Hatra is one of the stars of the National Museum in Baghdad: it produced those funny statues of men with curly hair and a surprised expression, raising one hand as …

Khinalig by Els Slots

Khinalig (Inscribed)

Khinalig

Khinalig isn’t visited much by our community – it is too remote to feature on a first itinerary of Azerbaijan. A direct drive from Baku takes 4 hours; so it …

Samarra by Els Slots

Samarra (Inscribed)

Samarra

Although best known for its Spiral Minaret, Samarra is much more. It’s the archaeological site of a city that was the short-lived capital of the Abbasids. They built it as …

Workers' Assembly Halls by Els Slots

Workers' Assembly Halls (Nominated)

Workers' Assembly Halls

The Workers' Assembly Halls, a nomination led by Denmark, is one of the more prominent upcoming serial transnational initiatives. It is aiming for inscription in 2027. They represent the international …

Ahwar of Southern Iraq by Els Slots

Ahwar of Southern Iraq (Inscribed)

Ahwar of Southern Iraq

This should have been split into two WHS: one for the sites of the Ancient Sumerian civilization, one for the “New” Marshes. ICOMOS and IUCN suggested to do so and …

Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery in Najaf by Els Slots

Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery in Naj… (On tentative list)

Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery in Najaf

Najaf in Southern Iraq is the holiest city for Shia Islam as it holds the Tomb of Ali – “the” Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed and with whom the …

Babylon by Els Slots

Babylon (Inscribed)

Babylon

I made it to Babylon in April 2025. There’s a lot to explain here – we’re missing a Solivagant-style PhD review, so I have tried my best to cover …

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