Municipalities face complex challenges: accelerating housing construction, implementing the Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet), making mobility more sustainable, organising events safely and making public spaces climate-proof. These challenges are interconnected, but the information is scattered across dozens of systems. Our Digitwin platform brings that data together and adds computational power: running scenarios, identifying bottlenecks and making evidence-based decisions.
What is a digital twin for municipalities?
A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical area, continuously fed with real-time data. For municipalities, this means: a platform where traffic data, zoning plans, permits, event calendars, public space reports, underground infrastructure and dozens of other sources come together on an interactive map.
Digitwin goes beyond displaying map layers. It calculates. A policy officer can virtually close a street and immediately see the effect on accessibility and supply logistics. A permit officer can see whether a planned development conflicts with existing activities. An area manager can visually show residents what is going to happen in their neighbourhood.
Dozens of municipalities, from mid-sized to the four largest cities (G4), now work with the platform on a daily basis.
What do municipalities use Digitwin for?
Permit assessment and the Environment and Planning Act
The Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet) requires municipalities to assess permit applications integrally: does an initiative fit spatially, environmentally and socially? Digitwin makes this tangible with the digital environment table. All relevant data, from zoning plans and noise contours to environmental standards and nearby activities, comes together on an interactive map. Permit officers, initiators and environmental services assess applications in context, not based on separate documents.
The result: faster processing times, fewer objections and better coordination between departments. Municipalities also use the environment table for participation processes, where residents can directly see what a development means for their surroundings.
Housing and area development
The Netherlands needs to accelerate housing construction, but building locations intersect with mobility, the environment, amenities and existing infrastructure. Digitwin brings those factors together. Planners test development locations for accessibility, noise levels and pressure on amenities, even before the first design is complete.
For area developments, the platform helps compare variants: what if we build 800 homes here instead of 500? How does traffic pressure change? Does neighbourhood green space remain adequate? By running scenarios upfront, you prevent problems from surfacing only when construction is already underway. In Alkmaar, the platform is already used for regional area development.
Mobility and accessibility
Municipalities struggle with the balance between accessibility, liveability and sustainability. With Digitwin, you can test traffic measures upfront: what happens if you make a street low-traffic? Which alternative routes become overloaded? Do shops remain accessible for deliveries?
The platform links real-time traffic data, bicycle count data and public transport information to computational models and provides immediate answers. In Helmond, Digitwin is used for integrated mobility policy with live traffic data. In Eindhoven, the impact of a city-wide shared bicycle system was modelled. And in Noord-Brabant, citizens use the platform to contribute to regional cycling policy. Read more about accessible cities.
Events and public order
From funfairs and marathons to cup finals and carnival: events place enormous pressure on public space. Digitwin brings together visitor flows, traffic closures, emergency service routes and outdoor dining areas in a single view. Planners test upfront whether emergency routes remain clear, whether the load stays within standards and where additional capacity is needed.
During the KNVB Cup Final in Rotterdam, the platform was used for crowd management around De Kuip stadium. In Maastricht, it supports visitor management during major events. The combination of real-time data, historical patterns and computational models makes Digitwin unique in this segment. Read more about safe events.
Public space and infrastructure management
Quay walls, bridges, sewerage, greenery, lighting: managing public space is a puzzle of priorities and budgets. Digitwin links maintenance registers to spatial data, so managers can see at a glance where works overlap and can be bundled efficiently.
The Bridges & Quay Walls Programme in Amsterdam shows how this works at scale: 600 kilometres of quay wall and hundreds of bridges in an integrated digital workspace. Every closure is tested upfront for accessibility and mobility impact. In Bergen op Zoom and Roosendaal, the platform is used for freight transport and logistics in the city centre.
City centre management and economic vitality
How vibrant is your city centre? Digitwin combines footfall counts, vacancy rates, hospitality density and accessibility data into an integrated picture. Policymakers can see which areas are underperforming and monitor the effect of measures over time.
Veenendaal uses the platform for data-driven retail area management. Breda strengthens city centre collaboration with shared insights from Digitwin. And in Maastricht, smart city management is linked to visitor management. Read more about vibrant cities.
Climate adaptation and resilience
Heat stress, flooding, drought: climate challenges are inherently spatial. Digitwin makes it possible to identify vulnerable areas, simulate measures and monitor the effects. From green roofs to water storage: the platform calculates the returns.
In collaboration with TU Delft, among others, we integrate scientific models directly into the platform, so municipalities are not dependent on external studies but can run their own calculations. Read more about resilient cities.
Public order and safety
Municipalities are responsible for public order and work closely with police, fire services and safety regions. Digitwin provides a shared area view in which risk locations, events, reports and emergency service routes come together.
The VNG guideline on safety and resilience identifies digital twins as an instrument for municipalities to get a grip on safety challenges. From risk management to crowd management: the platform supports both preparation and execution. Read more about digital crowd management.
Municipalities working with Digitwin
Dozens of Dutch municipalities and government organisations work with our platform on a daily basis. From the four largest cities (G4) to mid-sized municipalities, from one-off events to multi-year infrastructure programmes. Some examples:
- Amsterdam: Bridges & Quay Walls Programme and multiple city-wide programmes
- Rotterdam: Event safety including the KNVB Cup Final
- Maastricht: Smart city management and visitor management
- Veenendaal: Data-driven retail area management
- Alkmaar: Regional data insights and area development
- Helmond: Smart mobility and accessibility
- Breda: City centre management and economic vitality
- Bergen op Zoom: Logistics and freight transport in the city centre
In addition, safety regions, multiple provinces and Rijkswaterstaat work with our platform. Read more about Digitwin for safety regions.
What makes Digitwin different?
More than map layers
Combines data with computational models. You don't just see how things are, you calculate how they will be.
Real-time and up-to-date
Directly connected to data sources. No exports, no outdated spreadsheets.
Entire organisation
For policymakers, executives, area managers and communications staff. Not just for specialists.
Digitally sovereign
Dutch team, proprietary software, data on Dutch servers. No foreign dependencies.
Proven at scale
No pilot or proof of concept. Used daily by dozens of organisations across the Netherlands.
Explore our solutions
Digitwin offers specific solutions for the challenges municipalities face on a daily basis.
Want to know what Digitwin can do for your municipality?