Written by Aljan Scholtens on 3 September 2025

Back in the day you had to be a little economical with your maps. We had a limit on the number of maps per account. Not because we wanted to be difficult, but because it was technically easier. Still, it didn’t feel right. As a mapmaker you simply want to be able to add a new map easily.

That restriction is gone. You can now create as many maps as you need. But with that freedom comes a new question: when should you actually create a new map? Because cramming everything into one map ‘just because you can’ isn’t always the best idea. In this blog we’ll share a few guiding principles we use ourselves.

1. Start with the theme

Every map serves a purpose. And a clear purpose deserves focus.

Is your map about regional recreation? A festival? A sustainability initiative? Urban development? The sharper the theme, the easier your message comes across. It also helps if you want to use the map in a campaign or on a website: one clear story = less confusion.

Take the PlantFWD map: a festival about plant-based food in Amsterdam. Everything on the map contributes to that one theme — from locations to stories and speakers. Visitors immediately get it: this is about the future of food, and where to experience it.

2. Think in audiences

Not every map is for everyone. A map for young families looks very different from one aimed at policymakers. Obvious, right? Maybe one uses more video, the other more in-depth content.

Ask yourself one simple question: Who am I really trying to reach with this map?

And if you end up with multiple answers, that’s already a sign: maybe it should be multiple maps.

A good example: Groener Groningen. Their map highlights sustainable places in the city, made specifically for residents who want to make greener choices. Think thrift shops, energy coaches or a local food co-op. That focus makes it recognizable and useful.

3. Watch the complexity

Maps can grow. Sometimes a bit too enthusiastically. What started as a neat overview of fun spots suddenly becomes an impenetrable jungle of categories, routes and locations. If you notice you’re losing track yourself, chances are your users are too.

In that case it’s smarter to split things up. Create separate maps with their own focus, and connect them where needed. This way you keep both clarity and depth.

The Hondsrug does this well. The main map shows the region’s highlights. But click further and you’ll find subregions with their own stories, routes and experiences. One map as a landing page, the rest as deeper dives.

4. Routes deserve their own stage

This is the question we get most often: “I already have a map with routes, do I really need a separate map for one of them?”

Our short answer: yes, if that route has more to tell.

Imagine you’ve got a general map with walking and cycling routes. But one route stands out. You want to add audio, highlight stops, maybe even tell a mini story. That route deserves its own map. With its own introduction, its own design, its own vibe.

You can still link to it from your main map. But this way you give users the space to really step into the experience. Think of a podwalk, an immersive route or a heritage trail: those kinds of routes need their own spotlight.

In conclusion: freedom doesn’t mean chaos

The fact that you can now create unlimited maps doesn’t mean you should do so without thought. A new map is a powerful tool, use it wisely. Consider your theme, your audience, your complexity. And if it feels right? Just go for it.

Let’s make beautiful maps together 🚀