About Verbeterdebuurt
Verbeter-de-buurt (Improve the neighourhood ) is a dutch social platform that unites citizens and local government, by offering an easy way to improve the neighbourhood. Neighbours literally put their issues (problems and ideas alike) on the map and the city council will be notified. The platform offers other neighbours the options to read, vote and react on issues posted by their peers, encouraging dialogue. Ultimately leading to an improved neighbourhood (Verbeterde-buurt)
Platform
Being a platform Verbeterdebuurt offers a variety of possibilities to participate. Obviously their is a site, but other possibilities include widgets on the city website, mobile applications, newsfeed to local news sites and more. City councils that integrate their back-offices with Verbeterdebuurt, automatically turn their frontdesks and telephone operator in channels for Verbeterdebuurt, effectively unlocking all the issues in the public space as open data.
Easy
Verbeterdebuurt is a lasting addition to city web site functionality, exactly because it offers insight and is easy to use. Easy because it is designed with users in mind. It offers insight because it publishes all issues in your direct neighbourhood, their statuses and the public opinion.
Verbeterdebuurt is moving. In 2009 it won the Dutch e-Participatie award, as awarded by the ministry of internal affairs. It was declared the best way to involve citizens with the ongoings in their neighbourhood and local government, in 2010 SIDN awarded the platform with the title “Best initiative in Government/Citizen dialogue”.
Why?
First and foremost Verbeterdebuurt offers the possibility of better and more transparent communications between citizen and local government. Verbeterdebuurt also introduces efficiency and cost reduction; it reduces multiple reports, encourages self service and relieves more expensive communication channels.
Verbeterdebuurt is not just about complaints, it’s social and deals with ideas as well as problems and encourages people to contact their representatives that normally would not.