Pajottegem: from three municipalities to one strong digital platform
Client: Municipality of Pajottegem
Link: pajottegem.be
Go-live: 4 January 2025
Industry: Local government
Partner: Level27 (hosting)
Pajottegem is a recently merged municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, created on 1 January 2025 through the merger of Galmaarden, Gooik and Herne. It has around 25.000 residents spread across several rural village centres. Pajottegem combines a distinctly rural character with a strong local community life and village-oriented services.
The challenge
For the Municipality of Pajottegem, the challenge was not simply to create a new municipal website, but to bring three existing websites together into one strong, future-proof digital platform. In the context of a merger, the new website had to provide a clear structure for residents, visitors and entrepreneurs, without any loss of information and with a strong focus on ease of use.
In addition, the municipality needed to make a broad and complex body of content accessible: from services and administrative products to news, events, associations, tourism and information about the 12 village centres. The request was therefore twofold: to build a website that is clear, accessible and scaleable, while also convincingly reflecting Pajottegem’s new identity.
The approach
Paddle approached this project as both a strategic and practical website project. We started by analysing the content of the three existing websites and supported the preliminary phase with, among other things, a card-sorting session, input on top tasks and a detailed navigation structure. This allowed us to establish a strong content and structural foundation before the actual build began.
We then translated Pajottegem’s new visual identity into a fresh graphic design and integrated it into the Paddle CMS. At the same time, we configured a range of smart functionalities and integrations, such as LPDC Vlaanderen V3 for products and services, UiTinVlaanderen for activities, a business, hospitality and associations directory, news, opening hours, contact persons, organisations, advanced search functions, web forms and Matomo monitoring.
Training was also an explicit part of the project: writing for the web, CMS training, web forms and management. This ensured not only a strong website, but also a team that can work with it independently and sustainably.
The result
The result is a new merger website for the Municipality of Pajottegem that quickly guides residents to the right information and services. The website combines a clear navigation structure, a contemporary design, powerful search functionality and smart integrations with external data sources. Pajottegem now has a user-friendly and professional digital platform that can be managed efficiently and is ready to grow with the municipality.
Want to know more?
Would you also like to bring multiple websites, services and target groups together in one clear and future-proof digital platform? Discover how Paddle can help your local authority build an accessible, user-friendly and scalable website.