If there’s one thing people who know me will say, it’s that I’m a proud Lokeraar through and through. The history of Lokeren, and the way the city keeps changing, has always fascinated me.

It all started in 2019 when I began editing Lokeren’s Wikipedia page. I wanted it to be more than just a dry article—I wanted it to reflect the city’s character with accurate and engaging information. After two years of expanding and polishing, I felt I had done my part there, and I started looking for other ways to put Lokeren on the map.

That’s when I discovered OpenStreetMap in 2021. My first edit was just a tiny stream in Lokeren. But from that small start, it turned into a real passion. Before long, I was mapping everything: trees, bike paths, parking lots, even new buildings as they appeared.

Now, four years later, I can proudly say the mission has been a success so far. But it doesn’t stop here—Lokeren keeps growing, and so does my map. And honestly, that’s the best part: there’s always something new to add, and always another story to tell about my hometown.