Problem in real life
Amsterdam has hundreds of care institutions, municipal services, and welfare organizations. If you have limited digital skills, are new to the city, or just in crisis—then finding the right help is overwhelming. Too many organizations, too little overview. Existing directories are often incomplete or hard to understand.
For whom
The Social Map Amsterdam is designed for:
- Vulnerable citizens who need care or support
- Health and social care professionals who want to refer clients and collaborate more easily
- City of Amsterdam staff who want to help citizens
- People with limited digital skills
Solution
A web-based map interface that:
- Visualizes all care and welfare organizations in Amsterdam
- Offers simple filters (care type, location, target group)
- Is accessible to users with limited digital skills
- Works on mobile and desktop
- Real-time data synchronization with municipal systems
- Care professionals can find each other faster to make a plan together for the same client—instead of working past each other
Technical features:
- React-based interface
- Mapbox integration for map display
- WCAG 2.1 AA compliant
- Mobile-first design
Social impact
The Social Map helps people maintain their autonomy. Not every problem needs professional care—sometimes support from the social foundation (a neighbor, a community, a welfare organization) is more appropriate. By increasing overview:
- People can choose which support fits them
- Autonomy stays central—not taking over, but standing alongside
- Professionals are encouraged to collaborate around a client
- Transparency in available services is increased
Intended impact:
- 40% reduction in time to find right care
- Accessible to users with limited digital skills
- Better referrals between organizations
Accessibility & inclusion
The Social Map is designed with accessibility as a priority:
- WCAG 2.1 AA standards
- Simple, clear language
- Large, clickable elements
- Screen reader support
- Multilingual interface (NL, EN, AR)
Privacy & ethics
- No personal data collection
- Anonymous use possible
- GDPR compliant
- Transparent about data use
Status & roadmap
- ✅ MVP Launch (Q1 2024): Basic map interface with 200+ organizations
- 🔄 Data expansion (Current): Expanding to all Amsterdam care organizations
- 📋 Partnerships (2024): Integration with care providers for real-time availability
- 📋 Expansion to other cities (2025): Replicate model to other Dutch cities
Partner with me
The Social Map Amsterdam is in active development. I’m looking for:
- Data partners: Organizations willing to share their data
- Test users: People who want to test the interface
- Municipal partners: Other cities interested
- Care providers: For feedback and integration
Get in touch to discuss how you can contribute.