EX99-906CERT



                                  CERTIFICATION


     Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a)
and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of
the undersigned officers of Worldwide Real Estate Fund, do hereby certify, to
such officer's knowledge, that:

     The semi-annual report on Form N-CSR of Worldwide Real Estate Fund for
the period ended June 30, 2003 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Worldwide
Real Estate Fund.


Dated: August 25, 2003                  /s/ Jan F. Van Eck
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Jan F. Van Eck
                                        Chief Executive Officer
                                        Worldwide Real Estate Fund


Dated: August 25, 2003                  /s/ Bruce J. Smith
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Bruce J. Smith
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                        Worldwide Real Estate Fund



This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350 and
is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.