The City of Amsterdam puts the lesser known attractions outside the city centre on the map with a new smartphone app and with special signs, linked via QR-codes to the app. Edenspiekermann developed – together with the Amsterdam Tourism and Congress Board (ATCB) – a series of 140 signs to mark these spots throughout the city.

B Ahb B1s H Og Zm Ss Iga W1h Z2 Vz L3dvcmsv Qvnex3 Fyc2 Nhbj Iuan Bn Bjo Grv Rb C Do Gc Do Kd Gh1b Wjj Igk2 Otz4 Bjs G Rg

By doing this, the city hopes to spread tourism by telling interesting stories about buildings, locations and neighborhoods outside of the world-renowned canal belt. We chose a form for the signs that is appropriate for Amsterdam: authentic, handshaped square ceramic tiles reminiscent of the 16th century ‘Hollandse witjes’ (‘Holland whites’). The characteristic red crosses on the signs link the signs both to the locations on the digital map in the smartphone app (x marks the spot) and link the signs also to the Amsterdam logo, consisting of three of these bright red crosses (see also our case study on the Style of Amsterdam).

B Ahb B1s H Og Zm Ss Ija W1h Z2 Vz L3dvcmsv Qvnex2tya Wp0b W9s Zw4uan Bn Bjo Grv Rb C Do Gc Do Kd Gh1b Wjj Igk2 Otz4 Bjs G Rg

B Ahb B1s H Og Zm Ss Iga W1h Z2 Vz L3dvcmsv Qvnex2 Jh Z Gh1a X Muan Bn Bjo Grv Rb C Do Gc Do Kd Gh1b Wjj Igk2 Otz4 Bjs G Rg

By pointing your smartphone at the large QR-code at the bottom of the sign, the accompanying I amsterdam app gives you more historic photographs and background information. It also points the way to other signs in the direct vicinity.

B Ahb B1s H Og Zm Ss Ifa W1h Z2 Vz L3dvcmsv Qvnex3 Blb3 Bs Zs5qc Gc G Og Zfv Fs I Og Zw Ogp0a H Vt Ykki Cty5 Nng G Ow Zg

B Ahb B1s H Og Zm Ss Iea W1h Z2 Vz L3dvcmsv Qvnex25vb3 Jk Lmpw Zw Y6 Bk Vu Wwg6 Bn A6 Cn Rod W1i Ssij Njk2e Ay7 Bk Y

The signs are composed of square shaped, handmade ceramic tiles, produced by the internationally renowned Royal Tichelaar factory of Makkum, Friesland. Beedesign was responsible for the fixtures and placement of the signs.