Could you both introduce yourselves?

Coen: Hi, I’m Coen, and I live in Tilburg. I was first introduced to USE-IT in 2011 while living in Brussels, and I’ve been fascinated by these maps ever since. I think every city I live in should have one!

Doris: And I’m Doris. I came across USE-IT when I saw a presentation Coen did. I’ve always loved collecting maps, especially city maps, and it turns out I already had some USE-IT maps in my collection. So here we are, working on one for Tilburg!

So, Tilburg. We’re two days away from your map launch, which makes you quite different from others I’ve interviewed who are still navigating the funding process. Why Tilburg? What do you love about it?

Doris: Tilburg is actually the 7th largest city in the Netherlands, which surprises people. It’s not a huge city, but it has a lot of character. Some may say it’s not the prettiest, but it has a charm. It’s a creative city with a unique personality.

I once heard, “The people in Tilburg know it’s a rough city, but it’s their city.” Would you agree?

Doris: Exactly! It’s a little rough around the edges, but that’s part of its charm.

And Coen, what’s your perspective on Tilburg?

Coen: Well, I’m actually from Friesland in the north, so I’m “imported.” I came to Tilburg about eight years ago. Initially, I missed the water because Tilburg doesn’t have much of it, but over time, I began to appreciate its people and the surrounding nature. In the north, we have water, but here, there’s plenty of forests and national parks, even within the city. Through this project, I’ve really come to like it.

That’s great! What did you discover about the city during this process?

Coen: Every city has a story, no matter how small or rough. Tilburg’s story might not be obvious at first, but with each team member’s unique input, we’ve uncovered parts of the city that even locals might not notice. This process has made me see how inspiring Tilburg can be.

That sounds fantastic! So, what are some of your favorite things you’ve added to the map?

Doris: One of my favorites is the “peanut butter tree,” which releases a peanut butter scent when you rub its leaves. It’s just a fun, quirky detail that’s perfect for the map.

Coen: We’ve also highlighted some underground spots, like Krakenkelder, which literally means “squatter’s basement.” It’s part of a theater, De Nieuwe Vorst, but you’d never know it’s there from the outside. This captures the soul of Tilburg—lots of hidden gems beneath the surface. It’s a city that might not seem interesting at first glance, but the more you explore, the more you find.

Doris: Yes, and Tilburg is big on events. We’ve included the secondhand festival, which I love. It’s a weekend event focused on secondhand clothes—a fun, conscious way to shop.

So, you’ve managed to publish this map, which is impressive! Coen, you’ve been involved with USE-IT for a long time. Can you share a bit about the journey from when you started until Doris joined?

Coen: Sure, it’s a bit of a story. It started in Leeuwarden, where I sent my first email to you in 2013, but soon after, I moved to Tilburg. So, I had to wait a while before getting started here. Around 2020, I decided to really start on the Tilburg map, but COVID hit, which made things tough. It was hard to meet in person, and everything kept opening and closing. We ended up pausing for about a year and a half. Then, I went to a USE-IT meeting in Lille, and that reinspired me. I texted some people, including Doris, and we really started working on it in October 2022.

Doris, what was it about Coen’s presentation that made you want to join?

Doris: I’ve always loved collecting maps, so it felt like the perfect project for me. It’s creative, socially conscious, and aligns with my interests. I enjoy taking on new projects, so I was happy to join.

So you had a team. What was your approach to finding funding?

Doris: Looking back, it actually feels like it went smoothly. We applied for two funds and got one of them—the YOP Fund. But city marketing was a disappointment. Everyone told us they’d be the ones to go to, but they kept suggesting other sources. They said they supported us, but we needed money for printing, not just moral support.

Coen: Even the municipality suggested city marketing because they’re given funds for exactly this type of thing. But, we were also cautious about potential editorial interference.

Doris: Eventually, we met with the municipality, which was relaxed and supportive. They gave us a one-time grant, with the advice to try city marketing for future projects.

You mentioned that people from USE-IT Europe were present at that meeting. How did that impact things?

Doris: It helped us feel more at ease. It was like having “backup,” showing that this project was serious and successful in other cities. They didn’t speak much, but they added comments when needed, which reassured us.

Coen: Yes, thank you, Eva, for pushing us to arrange that meeting. This led to a concept map for the municipality, and many items from that map made it onto the final version. That meeting gave us the momentum to finally get things going.

So your funding came from the municipality and the YOP Fund. Coen, what is the YOP Fund exactly?

Coen: Honestly, I’m not entirely sure, but it’s connected to profits from a construction company, which are reinvested in social projects.

Interesting! What were some of the challenges in your funding process?

Coen: Getting started was the hardest part. Looking back, we were lucky and didn’t have to submit many applications. But just the thought of starting can be daunting. It feels bureaucratic and boring, especially for creative people who just want to make the map, not beg for money. But once we got going, we found it was less difficult than we expected.

That’s a good point. You also mentioned a “funding book” that listed various funds. Can you tell us more about that?

Coen: Yes, it’s a Dutch book with small funds that most people might overlook. It’s easy to only think of big institutions like municipalities or universities, but this book helped us consider smaller, alternative sources.

Doris: Applications can be overwhelming, but one piece of advice we got was to share our story. It’s more engaging when you talk about how the map affects people, rather than just listing facts. Almost every fund wants to know about the impact on people and the environment.

Yes, funders always ask, “Why you? Why now?” It can feel repetitive, but it does make the project personal and engaging.

Coen: Exactly. The application process, while bureaucratic, can also help clarify your goals. They ask good questions that make you think, “Why are we doing this? What’s the purpose?” So it’s not all bad!

Thank you both for sharing your story! Best of luck with the Tilburg map launch. It’s inspiring to see what you’ve created with this funding journey.