Gentrification pushes small businesses out of Rotterdam's neighbourhoods. Locals For Locals reverses this process by connecting newcomers with the businesses that form the soul of the district.

The project places custom plaques on long-standing small businesses in Rotterdam. Each plaque tells the business's history and features a QR code linking to personal stories, photos, and neighbourhood heritage. Not nostalgia but living heritage that sparks curiosity and strengthens pride.

These marked sites form a walking trail through the city - a network that honours local culture, preserves heritage, and invites newcomers to become part of the existing community. It's an invitation to discover what's already there, rather than replace it.

Van Grutten celebrates what exists instead of what's disappearing. By making stories visible in public space, she creates conversations between old and new residents that strengthen the neighbourhood.

Bea van Grutten is a designer who uses communication as her tool and people as her environment. With a hands-on approach, she translates stories that prompt questions and open eyes. As a creative disruptor, she challenges norms and touches controversial topics. Through illustration, photography, film, and design, she makes the unknown visible to create a more inclusive world.