From online inspiration to offline experience

The beginning: a stack of leaflets in a hotel room

The idea behind Loculy came about almost fifteen years ago. Wouter travelled a lot for work and regularly stayed in hotels and Airbnbs. Almost every time, the same thing was waiting for him: a stack of leaflets about the area, city walks and local businesses.

Actually using them soon got frustrating. Opening hours were out of date, a recommended spot turned out to have closed, and the best walk only existed on paper. The information was there — but outdated, scattered and impossible to take with you.

Even back then it was clear what was needed: a single, always up-to-date place online for local inspiration, routes and activities. But at the time the technology just wasn't there yet — it wasn't practical, and it wasn't affordable.

Why now

That's changed. Information can now be updated as soon as something changes, and it's on the device you already carry with you: your phone.

Digital isn't automatically better, but it makes one thing fundamentally easier: staying up to date. A route or tip doesn't need reprinting, and there's less need to rely on throwaway leaflets that are out of date within a season.

From online to offline

Loculy bridges the gap between online inspiration and offline experience. Here's how that works in practice:

• you arrive at Loculy through a QR code or a link;
• you buy a self-guided walking route and walk it at your own pace;
• you use the city guide for local tips that have actually been checked;
• you put together a day yourself, one that suits you;
• and if the weather's bad, you quickly find a suitable alternative.

With the Day Planner you put together a day like that in one go, and with Pubtrails you go from pub to pub with a group, quiz round after quiz round. Still to come: the option to book activities and places — without having to search through dozens of websites.

Technology is the tool here. The goal is what happens outside: seeing, tasting and experiencing the city itself.

What matters to Loculy

• Up to date. Information you can rely on when you're actually standing there.
• Carefully selected. Routes and places chosen and checked by an editor — not an auto-generated business directory.
• Honest and transparent. Commercial partnerships are always clearly labelled.
• Discover it yourself. No guide, no group, no fixed departure time.
• Putting local businesses in the spotlight. The places that give a city its character deserve to be seen.
• Simply practical. On your phone, on the go, without any hassle.

Founded by Wouter

Loculy was founded by Wouter. What began as frustration with leaflets that were always out of date became a plan that simmered for fifteen years — and is now being built step by step, starting in Leiden.

Not everything is in place yet. But everything that's here has been made with care. That's our promise.

Feel the city, be Loculy.