If you stand on any busy street in London you’ll be able to point out a street named after a man. Maybe you can see Shaftesbury Avenue – named after one of the Earls of Shaftesbury. Or maybe you’re standing on one of the city’s most famous streets? Downing Street – named after Sir George Downing.

If you keep walking, chances are you will also come across a street named after a woman – but only if you’re very lucky. According to a survey carried out by MapBox in 2015, about 27.5% of street names in big cities – such as Paris, Mumbai, New Delhi and San Francisco – are named after women. And in London, it’s no different.

In the Netherlands, a recent survey by news website, De Correspondent, found that 88% of roads in big cities across the world are named after men. In Amsterdam, only 12% of streets were named after women – all of which were either wives of famous men or goddesses. Which is why over the past few days, female activists in the country have taken matters into their own hands by renaming streets after inspirational women. Beyoncé Boulevard? Check. Ada Lovelace Street? Check.

The feminist group, De Bovengrondse (known as ‘above ground’ in English), has now launched a campaign to spread awareness and encourage people to name new housing estates after women.

On a website dedicated to the campaign, the group says: “Street names are an overview of who our society decides to honour, and that is why we think it is time to change these relationships. What would it be like if more people literally felt at home with the name of a strong woman?”

The incredible initiative has now moved on to Utrecht, Rotterdam, Groningen and elsewhere, with the hope of renaming many streets.

“Why don’t we have more streets named after women in London?”