1968. Proposal for a macro-project for the area: DFB (Provincial Council of Bizkaia)

1984. UNESCO – Designation of the Biosphere Reserve

1989. Approval of the special law for the Biosphere Reserve: Law 5/89 on Protection and Management for the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.

1998: Unanimous approval of the PADAS by the Basque Government. Program for the Harmonization and Development of Socioeconomic Activities in Urdaibai
Programa de armonización y desarrollo de las actividades socioeconómicas

2008-2009. First attempt to build the Guggenheim Museum in the Sukarrieta colonies

September 2016: Approval of the Urdaibai Master Plan for Uses and Management
DECRETO 139/2016, de 27 de septiembre, por el que se aprueba el Plan Rector de Uso y Gestión de la Reserva de la Biosfera de Urdaibai.

2020-2021: First news in the media regarding the construction of two Guggenheim museums in Gernika (Dalia former cutlery factory in disuse)) and Murueta Shipyard (still operational)

June 7, 2021. First news in the media regarding the construction of two Guggenheim museums in Gernika (Dalia former cutlery factory in disuse)) and Murueta Shipyard (still operational)
La Diputación da el primer paso para el Guggenheim de Urdaibai (EL CORREO)

October 8, 2021. Request from the DFB to MITECO (Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition) to reduce the protection easement from 100m to 20m over a 950m stretch between the M-87 and M-127 boundaries of the Murueta municipality.

November 10, 2022. The DFB, Provincial Council of Bizkaia, secures 40 million euros for when the Guggenheim Urdaibai needs to be built
La Diputación «blinda» 40 millones para ejecutar «cuando sea» el Guggenheim de Urdaibai (EL CORREO)

February 2023. The Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop Platform is formed.

March 14, 2023:. The Basque Government speaks for the first time about the Guggenheim Urdaibai project. Bingen Zupiria: We are defining the project in all its aspects.
Bingen Zupiria, sobre el Guggenheim de Urdaibai: ”Estamos definiendo el proyecto en todas sus vertientes” (eitb.eus)

May 10, 2023. Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve Board: One part of the museum project is approved. Under the name “Comprehensive Restoration and Enhancement Project of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Upper Oka Estuary,” the construction of a pier-style elevated walkway from the mouth of the estuary near Gernika to Tejeria (an old tile factory in disuse about a kilometre and a half from the Murueta shipyardis approved.

May 19, 2023. Elections. Meeting in Gernika. First statements by Elisabete Etxanobe regarding the museum project. Dalia, first headquarters. Etxanobe commits to starting the demolitions necessary for the development of the Guggenheim Urdaibai after the summer.
Elixabete Etxanobe se compromete a que los derribos necesarios para iniciar el desarrollo del Guggenheim Urdaibai arranquen tras el verano

June 5, 2023. El Correo (best-selling newspaper in Bizkaia): Lakua halts a project that had been in development for 10 years due to the risk that it may not be compatible with the museum plan.
El Gobierno vasco y la Diputación chocan por un paseo junto al Guggenheim Urdaibai (EL CORREO)

June 14, 2023. The Guggenheim Bilbao Foundation Board receives the project proposed by the architects Cooper Robertson (New York company).

June 21, 2023. Second promotional article about the museum project. El Correo: The Guggenheim of Urdaibai will have an entrance in Gernika and will occupy 60,000 square meters.
El Guggenheim de Urdaibai tendrá entrada en Gernika y ocupará 60.000 metros cuadrados (EL CORREO)

July 4, 2023. The signing of the agreement between DFB and MITECO for €40M is made public. El Correo: The central government in Madrid pushes the Guggenheim Urdaibai project forward by injecting €40M into it.
El Gobierno central lanza el Guggenheim de Urdaibai al inyectar 40 millones al proyecto (EL CORREO)

August 1, 2023. First news about the reduction of the protection easement from 100m to 20m in the Astillero area. El Correo: A coastal report clears the way for the construction of the Guggenheim Urdaibai. The objectors are unaware of the existence of a resolution.
Un informe de Costas allana el camino para levantar el Guggenheim de Urdaibai (EL CORREO)

August 1, 2023: The hiring of an architectural firm by the name of Ajuriaguerra Tres to provide the legal framework for the museum project is made public.
Un informe de Costas allana el camino para levantar el Guggenheim de Urdaibai (See the middle of the article)
Objective: To adapt the current urban regulations of Busturialdea (region where the Urdaibai estuary is situated) for the construction of a “singular” cultural center with dual headquarters in Gernika and Murueta. €130,000.

September 10, 2023. Second mention of the reduction of the coastal protection easement. El Correo: “It is essential to maintain the 20-meter easement as it is now, and that has already been achieved.”
Seguimos sin tener luz verde para que el Guggenheim Urdaibai eche a andar (EL CORREO)

October 9, 2023  Public exposure: Modification of the PRUG (Urbanistic Plans) of Murueta. Objective: Change the classification of the land where the shipyard is currently located and where they intend to place the museum in the future, from industrial to equipment. Without this change, the museum would not be feasible.

October 28, 2023.  The Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop Platform calls for a demonstration demanding the withdrawal of the project. Extensive press coverage on October 29.

November 8, 2023:. The budget allocation for Guggenheim Urdaibai is removed. El Correo: The allocation to build the Guggenheim Urdaibai committed in 2023 has disappeared from the draft of Foral (BFV) Accounts for 2024 because it is clear that “it is not going to be executed,” explained yesterday the infrastructure deputy, Imanol Pradales. The announced €40M will not be allocated to anything else but will remain, authorized sources explained, “reserved” in the treasury of the public company Azpiegiturak.
La partida para el Guggenheim de Urdaibai se cae de las Cuentas ya que «no va a ejecutarse» en 2024 (EL CORREO)

November 9, 2023. Radio Popular. Bingen Zupiria states that consultations about the Guggenheim Urdaibai have already been conducted and the results are available. He mentions the municipal and regional elections, where the PNV saw a decrease in votes in the region, losing absolute majorities and municipalities like Bermeo or Mundaka (40 years of governance).
Zupiria dice que «ya se consultó» sobre el Guggenheim de Urdaibai y «los resultados están ahí» (RADIO POPULAR)

 November 12, 2023. The Basque Government postpones the Guggenheim project until after the regional elections. El Correo: The electoral calendar slows down the Guggenheim of Urdaibai.
El calendario electoral ralentiza el Guggenheim de Urdaibai (EL CORREO)

November 21, 2023. Resolution to reduce the easement protection from 100m to 20m.

December 5, 2023. Greenwashing campaign in 10 media outlets. See slide 46 in the PowerPoint presentation (Can be provided).

December 11, 2023.  The Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop platform, led by Jaime Doreste, a lawyer based in Madrid, presents allegations against the modification of the PRUG (Urbanistic Plans) of Murueta.

December 12, 2023. A. All mayors of Busturialdea receive an invitation to an informative meeting about the Guggenheim Urdaibai project on December 15 at 5:00 PM. A date change is requested without response. Pradales, Etxanobe, and a technical expert attend. The technical expert provides details using a PowerPoint presentation. Mayors not from the PNV request that the information be formally sent to the administrations and they are still waiting a year on.

December 17, 2023. Third sponsored report on the museum project. El Correo: This is how the Guggenheim of Urdaibai will be.
Este era el plan con el Guggenheim de Urdaibai (EL CORREO)

January 19. The platform files an appeal with the National Court (Madrid) against the reduction of the easement from 100m to 20m. Document (Can be provided).
Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop recurre ante la AN la reducción de la protección costera (NAIZ)

January 19 Appearance of the Lehendakari (President of the Basque Parliament) Urkullu and the General Deputy Elixanete Etxanobe. “Two years to reflect on the feasibility of the Guggenheim Urdaibai project.”
El parón al Guggenheim de Urdaibai fue una decisión unilateral del lehendakari (A LA CONTRA)

January 23. The PNV unanimously defends the feasibility of the Guggenheim Urdaibai project.
Itxaso Atutxa: “El Guggenheim Urdaibai ni se paraliza ni se enfría”

January 22: Appearance of the Lehendakari (President of the Basque Parliament) Urkullu and the General Deputy Elixanete Etxanobe. “Two years to reflect on the feasibility of the Guggenheim Urdaibai project.”

January 23: The PNV unanimously defends the feasibility of the Guggenheim Urdaibai project.
Gobierno vasco y Diputación de Bizkaia afirman que nada ha cambiado respecto al Guggenheim de Urdaibai (Ondavasca)
Lakua y Diputación recalcan que el Guggenheim cabe en el plan para revitalizar Busturialdea (Deia)

January 25, 2024. The Bizkaia Provincial Council contradicts Urkullu. “It is not a period of reflection but two years necessary to make the legal, urban modifications and environmental studies so that the museum has legal compliance.”
La Diputación de Bizkaia contradice a Urkullu: los dos años son para ver cómo será el museo (NAIZ)

January 26. The PSE (Spanish Socialist Party) and the PNV present a non-legislative plan to the Basque Government for the economic recovery of the region, which does not include the Guggenheim Urdaibai.
El PNV lleva al Parlamento un plan de revitalización de la comarca de Busturialdea sin ninguna mención al Guggenheim (el diario.es)

January 27, 2024. Imanol Pradales is proclaimed as the PNV candidate for LehendakariImanol Pradales, el nuevo jinete en la carrera hacia Ajuria Enea (PÚBLICO)

February 17, 2024. The future director of the Guggenheim New York visits Urdaibai led by Etxanobe and Vidarte.La futura directora del Guggenheim de Nueva York visita Urdaibai (EL CORREO)

February 20. General Assembly of Bizkaia . Elixabete Etxanobe (President of the General Assembly where the PNV is the majority party) brings the project to the table for the first time. The purchase of the shipyard land is openly discussed.
Etxanobek dioenez, aurrera doa Urdaibaiko Guggenheim museoaren proiektua, nahiz eta onartu haren bideragarritasuna oraindik ez dagoela bermatuta (BERRIA)

7 de febrero de 2024. El Gobierno Vasco impulsa un plan estratégico para la reactivación de la comarca de Busturialdea- Urdaibai.
La consultora que manipuló el contrato de viabilidad del Guggenheim Urdaibai diseñará el plan de Busturialdea (HORDAGO)

February 21: The Master Plan for Use and Management of Urdaibai is amended.
Google Drive Document

February 28, 2024. The Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, believes that the expansion of the Guggenheim Museum poses “serious environmental problems,” but states that it is a matter for the Basque Country to decide.
Guggenheim Urdaibaik ingurugiroan arazo larriak ekarriko lituzkeela nabarmendu du Urtasunek (NAIZ)

March 10: The Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop platform conducts a protest action at the Murueta Shipyards: a banner hung on the stern of the Artega ship. (Pictures can be provided).

March 12. The ARTEAGA leaves the waters of Urdaibai from the supposed old Murueta Shipyards, a shipyard that is allegedly in disuse (literally described as being “in ruins” in the agreement signed between MITECO and DFB, an agreement that Elisabete Etxanobe assured the spokespeople for GUS (Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop) can be changed!!!)
Urdaibaiko Guggenheim proiektua errealitate bihurtu dadin egiten dabiltzan “azpijokoak” salatu dituzte (HITZA)

March 20: General Assembly of Bizkaia. EH Bildu questions the shipyard lands and their possible purchase, which is covered in the media. The Minister for Infrastructure, Carlos Alzaga, provides various details about the ongoing negotiations. (The videos can be provided).
En marcha los primeros pasos para comprar los terrenos de Murueta donde se construirá el Guggenheim Urdaibai (Deia)
Diputación negocia con Astilleros Murueta la compra de terreno para el Guggenheim Urdaibai (Crónica Vasca)
Article La Diputación augura una «larga negociación» para comprar los terrenos del Guggenheim de Urdaibai (El Correo)
Diputación negocia ya la compra de terrenos con Astilleros Murueta (Naiz)

March 26, 2024. The Bermeo Town Council requests the definitive abandonment of the project.
Bermeoko Udalak Guggenheim Urdaibai proiektua behin betiko alboratzea eskatuko du (BERRIA)

April 23, 2024. The platform Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop files an administrative lawsuit before the National Court against the ministerial order that reduces the coastal protection easement from 100 to 20 meters.
Google Drive

April 24, 2024. The Mundaka Town Council requests the definitive abandonment of the project.
https://www.mundaka.eus/es-ES/Ayuntamiento/Convocatoria_Plenos/Paginas/retransmisionesdeplenos.aspx  

April 24, 2024. Ramón Zallo, a graduate in Law and Economics and Professor of Audiovisual Communication at UPV/EHU, presents his proposal: “An Economic and Ecosocial Development Plan for Busturialdea-Urdaibai.”
Un plan económico estratégico para la comarca de Busturialdea (VIENTO SUR)

May 9, 2024. The plan to revitalize Busturialdea will be developed in seven and a half months.
El plan para revitalizar Busturialdea se elaborará en siete meses y medio (DEIA)

May 20, 2024. Juan Antonio Vidarte, the public face of the Guggenheim for 27 years, announces he will step down as museum director at the end of the year.
Vidarte dejará el Guggenheim después de 27 años al frente del museo que revolucionó Bilbao (eldiario.es)

May 23, 2024. Greenpeace takes the new Guggenheim museum in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve to court for violating coastal law.
Greenpeacek ere auzitegietara eraman du Urdaibaiko Guggenheimen proiektua (NAIZ)

June 12, 2024. Ekologistak Martxan once again awards the Black Flag distinction for coastal pollution to the Guggenheim Museum project in Urdaibai.
Banderas Negras informe 2024

June 13, 2024. Demolition work begins on the old Dalia cutlery factory, where the construction of one of the Guggenheim Urdaibai Museum sites is planned. The platform announces mobilizations.
Gernikako Dalia fabrika zaharra eraisteko lanekin hasi direla salatu du Guggenheim Urdaibai Stopek (HITZA)
Google Drive Document

June 19, 2024: The PNV and the PSE sign a government agreement that includes the Guggenheim Urdaibai project.
ACUERDO ENTRE EAJ-PNV Y PSE-EE (PSOE) PARA AVANZAR EN BIENESTAR, PROGRESO, AUTOGOBIERNO Y LA TRANSFORMACIÓN DE UNA EUSKADI GLOBAL

June 20: According to the most important environmental groups in the state—Friends of the Earth, Ecologists in Action, Greenpeace, SEO/BirdLife, and WWF—the investiture of the future lehendakari  (President of the Basque Parliament) should be the time to consider abandoning this project.
La retirada del proyecto del Guggenheim en Urdaibai, un punto obligatorio en el debate de investidura del Gobierno Vasco (WWF)

June 26: Carlos Alzaga responds in the General Assembly of Bizkaia to Iratxe Arriola (Spokesperson of Bildu, the Basque left-wing coaltion and main opposition in the Assembly) regarding the objective of demolishing Dalia.
El derribo de la antigua Dalia concluirá en enero de 2025 (DEIA)

June 26: Gotzon Gaztañaga, on behalf of the Orkestra Institute of Competitivity (A business investigation centre), invites us to participate in the participatory process initiated by the DFB. After exchanging various emails and reviewing the methodology and objectives, we decided not to participate as there is no reference made to the Guggenheim museum and many other groups that are active in the region haven`been invited (trade unions, Gernika Gorgoratuz, Zain Dezagun Urdaibai etc.). The other organisations invited were mainly groups close to the interests of the PNV.
Google Drive Document

July 17, 2024: Elixabete Etxanobe, General Deputy, declares on the Basque public radio Radio Euskadi that the platform is against the decontamination of the land, the aquifer, and against relocating the shipyard from the heart of the Biosphere Reserve.
Entrevista completa a Elixabete Etxanobe en Radio Euskadi (RADIO EUSKADI)
Press Release: The platform issues a press release in response, requesting a public correction. Google Drive

July and August. The platform calls on citizens to various demonstrations in Gernika, Murueta, and Forua—towns that have signed a supramunicipal agreement to change urban plans in favor of the project, leaving competition in the hands of the Diputación.

August 8, 2024. The BOE (Official State Gazette) is made public. Announcement by the Basque Coast Demarcation regarding the granting of a concession to occupy public maritime-terrestrial lands for the connectivity path from Punta Murueta to La Tejera.
Anuncio de la Demarcación de Costas del País Vasco.

August 8, 2024. The Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop platform files an administrative appeal and an appeal to a higher authority against these two actions.
Ejecución del Proyecto de Restauración ambiental y puesta en valor del patrimonio natural y cultural del estuario superior de la Ría de OKA, en el marco del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia – Financiado por la Unión Europea – NextGenerationEU.

September 10: Meeting with Elixabete Etxanobe
Google Drive Search

September 16: Ibone Bengoetxea, Vice-Lehendakari of the Basque Government, states in the Basque Parliament that the Basque Government will take the reins of the project.
Lakua asume el liderazgo en el Guggenheim Urdaibai (DEIA)

September 17: Eneko Andueza, Secretary General of the Basque Socialists and government partner, claims to be unaware of anything regarding the dimensions of the project on Basque public radio.
Andueza advierte al PNV de que “no conviene jugar” con la mayoría del Gobierno Vasco (eitb.eus)
El PSOE no se decantará sobre el Guggenheim de Urdaibai hasta conocer «toda la información» (The Objective)

September 19: “Costas”, the Spanish authority responsible for protecting coasts and river-banks, sends an environmental technician to the La Tejería area to take measurements of the tide rise during high tides. The technician must write a report with the obtained data. (We can provide pictures of the high tides).

September 26: Elixabete Etxanobe refers to the lack of information and project details but states that the project will proceed. It is non-negotiable.
«Escucharemos a los vecinos para hacer el mejor Guggenheim» (El Correo)

October 3, 2024. Meeting with Eneko Andueza, Secretary of the Sapnish Socialist Party in the Basque Country.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ECZCjs0i-1-TqOLNc7_N4Jf1z2exZagGHcid3A5Lyvg/edit?tab=t.0

October 8, 2024. Meeting with Ibone Bengoetxea, Vice Lehendakari of the Basque Government and Minister of Culture.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K_zpggTQ4q14RLUtxCoIwVSGLR7FJop7LpWT4cZ9FVE/edit?tab=t.0

October 16. The tender and concession for the occupation of the land where  the “palafito” (pier-like wooden walkway planned to allow visitors to cross the marshland) is to be built are halted.
Resolución sobre el proyecto palafítico que forma parte del proyecto Guggenheim Urdaibai
El Gobierno vasco paraliza una senda que serviría de acceso al Guggenheim Urdaibai (El Correo)

October 17. The socio-economic plan for the region begins at the Torre Madariaga. The platform GUS is not invited to the second day of the Regional Participation Forum.
Arranca el proceso colaborativo para elaborar el Plan Estratégico de Busturialdea-Urdaibai que guiará futuro de la comarca (eldiario.es)

October 19. Demonstration in Gernika. Thousands of people called by the Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop platform flood the streets of Gernika. The two news programs of the Basque public channel open their news broadcasts with this news.
Clamor de miles de personas en las calles de Gernika contra el nuevo Guggenheim proyectado en Urdaibai (eldiario.es)

October 19. Manifestación en Gernika.Miles de personas llamadas por la plataforma Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop colapsan las calles de Gernika. Los dos telediarios de la cadena pública vasca, abren noticiero con esta noticia.
Gernika se manifiesta en contra del Guggenheim de Urdaibai (eitb.eus)

November 12. The platform requests the report written by this technician.

November 14. Miren Arzalluz is appointed the new director of the Guggenheim Bilbao museum.
Miren Arzalluz asumirá la dirección del Guggenheim Bilbao (El País)
Resolución sobre el proyecto palafítico que forma parte del proyecto Guggenheim Urdaibai

December 11 and 12. Second step in the Busturialdea-Urdaibai Comarcal Strategic Plan at the Torre Madariaga. The platform is invited to the second day of the Regional Participation Forum.
La instituciones abren al diálogo para revitalizar Urdaibai con el fantasma del nuevo Guggenheim sobrevolando (eldiario.es)

December 11 and 12. There is no debate about the Guggenheim project in the conferences on the Busturialdea-Urdaibai Revitalization Plan.El Guggenheim “no se discute” en el diálogo sobre el Plan de Revitalización de Urdaibai (eldiario.es)

February 14, 2025. The Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia announce the launch of an active listening process regarding the future of the Busturialdea region. This process is designed by the Lehendakari Agirre Center Foundation.
Proceso de escucha sobre el futuro de Busturialdea-Urdaibai
Gobierno Vasco y Diputación impulsan un proceso de escucha sobre Guggenheim Urdaibai que recogerá 1.000 testimonios (Europa Press)

February 14, 2025. The citizens’ platform Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop expresses caution regarding the active listening process about the museum project.
[Comunicado] Cautela ante el proceso de escucha activa sobre el proyecto Guggenheim Urdaibai (Ekologistak Martxan)

March 11, 2025. The Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia hold a high-level meeting in New York, with the Guggenheim Urdaibai project in hand.
Gobierno vasco y Bizkaia mantienen en Nueva York una reunión de alto nivel con el Guggenheim de Urdaibai bajo el brazo (eldiario.es)

April 1, 2025. Miren Arzallus is officially the elected general director of the Guggenheim Bilbao.
Miren Arzalluz se incorpora al Museo Guggenheim Bilbao «deseando» comenzar a dirigirlo (EFE)

April 3, 2025. The platform Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop gives a symbolic “Welcome” to Miren Arzallus upon her appointment.
Los críticos con el futuro Guggenheim presionan a la nueva directora: “Urdaibai no se vende” (eldiario.es)

May 9, 2025. The platform meets with Miren Arzallus, the new director of the Guggenheim Bilbao.
Miren Arzalluz zuzendariarekin bildu da Guggenheim Urdaibai Stop herri plataforma (Naiz)

May 19, 2025. The Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands  issues a “Red Alert” for Urdaibai. Over 70 European environmental organizations support the statement.
«Alerta gorria» piztu dute nazioarteko talde kontserbazionistek Urdaibain (Naiz)
URDAIBAI RED ALERT PRESSKIT