Map Geodienst awarded at GIN Cartography Competition 2024

Lilia Boyadhzieva from the Geodienst has won the GIN Cartography Competition 2024 in the student category! Her map 'What defines the Nothern Netherlands' was named the best entry of the year during the Geo-Information Netherlands Awards & Network Drinks on Monday, November 25.

Lilia presented a unique map showing a creative mix of random subjects. Her aim was to initiate a discussion about what local characteristics mean to people and, in doing so, give a new perspective on the identity of the Northern Netherlands.

Encouraging for further thinking

According to the jury, the strenghth of this map lies in the way in which diverse data come together and paint a dynamic picture of the region. This work encourages further reflection on the question: how can cartography contribute to the understanding of regional culture and identity? Prof. Menno-Jan Kraak, professor of Cartography at the University of Twente and chairman of the jury: "This map shows the versatility of the Northern Netherlands in a visually very attractive style."

Proud colleagues

In the presence of proud Geodienst colleagues, Lilia accepted the award. She was delighted with the award: ‘I am very honoured that a map I made got such a big audience. I still cannot fully comprehend it! It is very exciting that a map of the North of the Netherlands is getting such recognition! I hope that this will encourage more people to talk about their own region and what makes it special.’

Importance of Cartography

The 2024 Cartography Competition was organized by Geo-Inoformation Netherlands (GIN) and is the opportunity for geo-experts to show their best map to a wide audience and be appreciated by colleagues. This competition exists to emphasize the importance of cartography and to put talented map makers in the spotlight.