Close Foundation

Close Foundation · A Dutch non-profit

Building neighborhoods that connect.

Try the actual Close radar

Fictional people and activities. Your location is not used.

Close is a non-profit initiative for stronger, more connected communities. Find local activities and people who share your interests, then arrange to meet.

Example profile · 120 m

Anna

Enjoys walking and cooking together. Looking for someone to explore the neighbourhood with.

Select a person or activity to explore.

Try Close

From nearby to together

A little closer. A little more connected.

A small group of young adults sitting together at a table in conversation.
People in conversation. Photo: Brooke Cagle / Unsplash.
  1. 01

    Discover

    Find people, local activities and opportunities to take part, right around you.

  2. 02

    Connect

    A shared interest can be a starting point. Suggest a public place and take the first step towards meeting.

  3. 03

    Belong

    A familiar face. Something to look forward to. We want to make more room for these everyday connections.

How Close helps

Small steps towards meeting people.

Join a local activity, find someone with a shared interest or suggest a place to meet. Choose what feels right for you.

Discover activities and community groups

Find out what is happening nearby, from local events to groups you can join.

Close app illustration showing local events.

Take the first step towards meeting

Choose a public meeting place and send a proposal to someone you would like to meet.

Close app illustration showing a proposed meeting place.

The Close Radar

Find people nearby with the radar

Find people nearby who share your interests or are looking for similar things to do.

  1. Choose how far to look, from 50 to 500 metres.
  2. Look for shared interests or things you would like to do, then open a profile.
  3. Suggest a public place and invite the other person to meet.

You choose whether you are visible and can share your location precisely or approximately.

Try the radar
Close app screen showing the radar with three people nearby.Close app screen with a suggested meeting place.

You decide whether to appear on the radar. When you turn on location sharing, your precise location is shared by default; you can choose an approximate location instead. Agreed meeting places always show an exact location.

Read about privacy
See how the app works

Why we exist

Getting to know people can be hard, even close to home.

People can live near one another without knowing each other. Local activities and places to meet can be hard to find, especially after a move or a change in circumstances.

  1. Finding your way

    A new neighbourhood can take time to feel familiar.

  2. Finding opportunities

    A walking group or community activity may be nearby without you knowing about it.

Loneliness has many causes. Our foundation focuses on one practical way to help: making it easier to find people, groups and activities nearby.

Partners and supporters

Together, we make room for more connection.

  • Rabobank
  • Leiden University
  • Okapion

Our foundation

Meet the people behind Close.

Alexander Akbik develops the app and its technology. Mathias Fallak works with local organisations and public services. They founded Close Foundation to help people meet in their neighbourhoods.

Registered foundation
Stichting Close Foundation Against Social Loneliness · The Hague, Netherlands · KVK 42089202
Read more about the foundersLegal notice
  • Portrait of Alexander Akbik, co-founder of Close leading product and technology.

    Alexander Akbik

    Product & Technology

  • Portrait of Mathias Fallak, co-founder of Close leading partnerships and public-sector work.

    Mathias Fallak

    Partnerships & Public Sector

Our progress

Where we are today.

What we have developed so far, and where we would like to go with your help.

  1. Built

    Tools to help people meet

    The app brings together a radar, local events and a way to suggest a meeting.

  2. Built

    Learning what helps

    An optional questionnaire in the app will help us understand how people’s sense of connection changes over time.

  3. Next

    Work with local organisations

    We are looking for organisations and municipalities to help shape and test Close in their communities.

We have yet to establish whether Close helps reduce loneliness.

How we plan to measure participation

Support our mission

Help more people connect.

Give your time, introduce us to a local organisation or make a donation. Each helps us develop Close and bring people together.

Volunteer with us

Help us develop Close and reach people in their neighbourhoods. We welcome your time, skills and ideas.

Where you can help

Organisation · Design · Software development

Volunteer with us

Introduce us to an organisation

Do you know a council, housing provider, community organisation or foundation that might like to work with us? We would welcome an introduction.

We would like to hear from

Local councils · Housing providers · Community organisations and funders

Make an introduction

Make a donation

Your donation helps us develop and run Close, so people can find more opportunities to meet in their neighbourhoods.

Wero / iDEAL or PayPal
How often would you like to give?

SEPA Bank transfer

Rabobank
RABONL2U

Account holder

Stichting Close Foundation Against Social Loneliness

IBAN

NL97 RABO 0176 4244 31
Payment reference:Donation Close Foundation

Working with local organisations

Help more people find what is happening locally.

Councils, housing providers and community organisations already bring people together through activities, groups and meeting places. We want to help more people find and join them, and work with local partners to understand what people use.

Explore working together