From Playgrounds to Platforms : Provincial Parks of the Antwerp Region

In Belgium, the Provincial Parks of the Antwerp Region manage a network of lush, family-friendly parks offering everything from hiking trails and biking zones to education centers, a petting zoo, and outdoor event spaces. Behind the scenes, a diverse operations team keeps everything running smoothly: inspections, scheduling, maintenance, programming, finance, and more.

 

The Challenge

For years, these workflows relied on hundreds of spreadsheets, emails, PDFs, and manual processes. It worked; until it didn’t. The effort required to manage and share critical information across teams became unsustainable.

Werner Marinus, Head of Administration for the parks, saw an opportunity. He needed a way to bring operations together into a single, accessible, and scalable system, ideally one that could work on an iPad in the field, not just behind a desk.

The first problem he aimed to solve? Playground inspections.

Rivierenhof - Province of Antwerp

 

Partnering with ClickWorks

Werner posted a callout on LinkedIn looking for FileMaker developers. That’s how he connected with ClickWorks. Together, we built a custom FileMaker app powered by QR codes for each playground site. Staff could scan a code on location, log an issue, and the system would automatically assign the task to the right person or department. It was simple, powerful, and changed everything.

Once the first app was in place, Werner didn’t stop.

Over the following year, he developed several custom applications and formally named the system DigiPark. Today, DigiPark is a growing ecosystem with many connected FileMaker apps, many designed in-house by Werner, with ClickWorks stepping in to handle complex challenges such as API integrations, advanced logic, and secure data flows.

 

Campaign-Ready with Claris Studio

A standout campaign this year focused on the petting zoo. The parks launched an “Adopt a pet” initiative where the public could select an animal online, complete a submission form, receive instant confirmation, and ensure that no two people could adopt the same animal at once.

ClickWorks proposed a solution using Claris Studio and Claris Connect, fully integrated with DigiPark.Whenever someone submitted a form, the animal’s status was immediately updated to “adopted,” preventing further selections for that animal.

The app was built in days. The campaign was a success: All animals were adopted within 72 hours.

Check us out on the  Claris Customer stories.

A Trusted, Flexible Partnership

DigiPark keeps growing, and new apps are added every quarter. As new needs emerge, they’re met with fast, elegant solutions; many built internally by Werner, and others developed in partnership with ClickWorks.

Province of Antwerp continues to collaborate on complex backend needs like API integrations and external system links. With ClickWorks as a long-term partner, the technical foundation is solid, freeing up internal staff to think ahead.

 

What’s Next?

The Province’s internal team can now confidently develop solutions. ClickWorks stands ready to support complex integrations and future needs. DigiPark is not just a toolset; it serves as the foundation for ongoing innovation, operational excellence, and community-focused service.

Key facts

Client: Provincial Parks of the Antwerp Region
Industry: Government
Employee: 2000+

Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Solution: App eco-system
ClickWorks collaboration since:
Project scope:

Key features

  • Custom Playground Inspection App
    Designed specifically for iPad use in the field, enabling quick QR code scans to log, assign, and track maintenance tasks.

  • Integrated Public Campaign Form
    A Claris Studio web form for the petting zoo adoption campaign, connected in real time to internal systems to disable adopted animals automatically.

  • Real-Time Data Sync
    The Claris Connect integration ensured live updates between public submissions and backend systems—no manual steps required.

  • Rapid Deployment
    From idea to launch in just days, proving the flexibility of the development partnership for time-sensitive public campaigns.

  • Co-Development Support
    Ongoing collaboration with internal champions like Werner, where ClickWorks steps in for advanced needs such as API integrations and system design.

  • Scalable Architecture
    The FileMaker system was extended progressively without disrupting daily operations, supporting new departments and use cases.

Technology

  • Claris FileMaker
  • Claris Studio
  • Claris Connect

What made the difference was how quickly we could take an idea and turn it into something useful. With FileMaker, we don’t wait months for development to finalize. We get custom apps we can use in a matter of days or weeks.

Werner Marinus

Administratief hoofdmedewerker at Provincie Antwerpen