Changing Coordinates: Field Notes from Flanders Subtitle: Applying lessons learnt in South Africa to local government in the Low Countries - By Nicolaas Klopper

1map has been at the forefront of spatial innovation in South Africa’s local government sector, with its CityManager application driving significant revenue growth by bridging the gap between GIS and municipal finance. While South Africa remains our core market, interest from regions as diverse as Nigeria, Burundi, California, and Australia has highlighted the broader relevance of our approach. Most notably, our growing engagement in the Benelux—particularly Flanders and the Netherlands—has revealed a surprising alignment in culture, values, and opportunity. This presentation shares some of the key lessons we’ve learnt while exploring the European municipal landscape, highlights emerging trends in GIS-enabled governance, and offers a forward-looking perspective on how spatial intelligence can support better decision-making across borders.