Who we are
Dam Guide runs this website. If you have a question about your personal data, use the contact form and choose “Privacy or data request”, or email us at [email protected].
What we collect
Browsing. Browsing the directory does not require an account. Like most websites, our servers keep standard technical logs (such as IP address, pages requested, browser and time) to keep the site secure and working.
Contact form. If you write to us we store your name, email address, chosen topic and message so we can read and reply to it, together with a hashed version of your IP address to limit abuse.
Menu reports. If you report a menu item we store your reason, your note, whether you visited recently and a one-way scrambled (hashed) version of your IP address. We use this only to limit abuse and spot repeat reports. We do not store the IP address itself with the report.
Accounts. If you create an account we store your name, email address and a scrambled (hashed) password, or your Google account ID if you sign in with Google. We use them to sign you in and to link your suggestions to your account. We also store your activity on the site, such as the routes you choose to save, your suggestions, experience points, level and badges. You do not appear anywhere public unless you tick the leaderboard option in your account settings. If you do, your level, badges and either your account name or a separate leaderboard name you choose (it does not have to be your real name) are shown publicly, and you can switch this off again at any time. Saved routes stay private unless you deliberately enable a public share link; that link contains the route details but not your account details, and you can disable it at any time. You can change your details or delete your account at any time from your account page. Signing in with Google shares your name and email with us under Google's own privacy policy. Account emails, such as password resets and replies to your messages, are sent through our email provider, which processes them on our behalf.
Community suggestions. If you suggest a coffeeshop, strain, bike rental shop, bar or nightclub, say a shop stocks a strain, or upload coffeeshop photos, we store what you send together with a hashed version of your IP address to limit abuse. Photo files stay private while awaiting moderation; approved photos become public in the coffeeshop gallery and rejected files are deleted. We do not ask for an email address on these forms. If you are signed in, the suggestion is linked to your account so it can earn you experience points. Moderators review suggestions before anything is published.
Your location. If you choose “Use my location” in the route planner, your position is used in your browser to order the stops. We do not receive or store it. If you open a route in Google Maps, the coordinates in that link are shared with Google under its own privacy policy.
Map page. The coffeeshop map is provided by Google Maps. When you open it, your browser connects to Google, which receives your IP address and technical details and may set its own cookies, under Google's privacy policy. If the map does not load, you can use the list view instead.
Cookies and similar storage
Dam Guide uses only essential storage: a note in your browser that you confirmed you are 18 or over, your cookie choice, and session cookies that protect forms against forgery and, if you have an account, keep you signed in (the “keep me signed in” option sets a longer-lived cookie). We do not use advertising cookies. We may use Google Analytics to understand how the site is used, but only if you choose Accept in the cookie notice. Until then no analytics cookies are set and no data is sent to Google, and you can change your choice at any time with the “Cookie settings” link in the footer. When enabled, Google receives your page views and technical details such as browser and approximate location, with your IP address anonymised. The Dam Guide Android app works the same way: it uses Google Firebase Analytics to see which screens are used and how the app performs, but only if you choose Allow when it asks. Until then nothing is collected, no advertising ID is used, and you can turn it off at any time on the app’s Home screen.
Why we use it and how long we keep it
We use contact messages to respond to you, account details to run your account, and reports and logs to keep the directory accurate and secure. Our lawful bases are your consent (analytics and the Google sign-in you choose), performing the account you asked for, and our legitimate interest in keeping the site accurate, secure and free of abuse.
Server logs are deleted after about 14 days. Account details are kept until you delete your account; suggestions you made may stay in the directory without your name once published. Contact messages are kept only as long as needed to deal with them. Backups of our database are kept for 14 days, so deleted data can remain in a backup for up to that long before it is overwritten.
Sharing
We do not sell your personal data. Our hosting and email providers process it on our behalf. Google (analytics if you accept, maps and Google sign-in) may process data outside the European Economic Area under its own safeguards. Some pages link to other websites, such as Google Maps and Booking.com. Those sites have their own privacy policies.
Your rights
You can ask to see, correct or delete the personal data we hold about you, to object to how we use it, to restrict it, or to receive a copy, and you can withdraw consent (for example to analytics) at any time. We aim to answer within one month. Contact us using the form. If you are unhappy with our response you can complain to your data protection authority, in the Netherlands the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens.
Children
Dam Guide is for adults aged 18 and over and we do not knowingly collect data from anyone younger. If you think a child has given us data, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes
We will update this page when our practices change and show the date at the top.