VerlorenGevonden is a community-driven lost and found platform that uses an interactive map to help people report found items and search for lost belongings. The service is designed to be simple: if you find something, you place it on the map with a photo and description; if you lose something, you search the area where it disappeared. The platform facilitates contact through an integrated chat, so users never need to share phone numbers or email addresses. It is available as a website and an iPhone app (Android coming soon), and it has already helped reunite 187 items with their owners.
What is VerlorenGevonden?
VerlorenGevonden is a web-based and mobile app service that connects people who find lost items with those who lost them. Users input a photo, a short description, and the location of a found item; the system displays it on an OpenStreetMap-based map. Owners can then search the map near where they lost something, filter by item type, and contact the finder via the built-in chat. The platform is created by an independent developer and is available in Dutch.
Key Features
- Interactive map — Found items are displayed on an OpenStreetMap map, allowing users to browse by location and zoom in/out.
- Photo and description — Each found item includes a photo and a short description, making it easy to identify.
- Category filters — Users can filter items by type (e.g., wallet, glasses, phone, keys) to narrow down search results.
- Built-in chat — Contact between finder and owner happens through the site's chat, keeping personal contact details private.
- Mobile app — An iPhone app is available for download from the App Store; Android support is planned.
- Business pages — Sports schools, cafés, and festivals can list found items on their own page, so visitors can check remotely.
- Safety guidelines — The platform encourages meeting in public places and verifying ownership by asking for a missing detail.
Who is it for?
- Individuals who find lost items — They can quickly report a found wallet, phone, or keys with a photo and location, helping the owner find it.
- Individuals who lost something — They can search the map around the area where they lost the item and filter by type to locate it.
- Businesses like cafés, sports schools, and festivals — They can list lost items on their own page, reducing phone calls and helping customers retrieve belongings.
What can you do with VerlorenGevonden?
- Report a found item: Take a photo, write a short description, and drop a pin on the map. The owner can then find it and contact you via chat.
- Search for a lost item: Browse the map around the location where you lost something, filter by category, and view photos to see if your item has been found.
- Verify ownership: The platform suggests leaving out a specific detail in the description and asking the claimant to name it, ensuring the item goes to the rightful owner.
How does VerlorenGevonden work?
- Place your find on the map — Provide a photo, a short description, and the location where you found the item. This takes about a minute.
- The owner searches nearby — People who lost something look around the spot where it disappeared and filter by what it was.
- Arrange the return together — Contact is handled via the site's chat, so no phone numbers or email addresses need to be shared.
Pricing
Not specified.
