Introduction
Building a scalable WordPress platform that handles thousands of dynamic content entries is no small task—especially when that platform is the digital knowledge hub for sustainable innovation in the Netherlands.
This is the story of how we rebuilt Het Groene Brein’s website into a high-performance WordPress Multisite with AJAX-powered dynamic filtering, custom Airtable API integration, and Crocoblock-powered custom post types—all while preparing it for future growth.
If you’re looking for WordPress performance optimization, dynamic content solutions, or API-driven automation, this case study is packed with insights.
The Challenge: Scaling a Growing Knowledge Hub
Het Groene Brein wanted their website to be more than just a digital presence. It needed to become a living knowledge hub, featuring:
✅ Thousands of scientist profiles (Wetenschappers)
✅ Projects, Programs, Publications, and Thematic content
✅ Dynamic relationships between content types
✅ Front-end AJAX filtering for instant user search experiences
✅ Automated Airtable-to-WordPress content synchronization
The old monolithic setup struggled to keep up. Slow queries, complex content relationships, and manual updates were holding the platform back.
Step 1: Migrating to WordPress Multisite for Scalability
To handle massive content growth, we migrated the website to WordPress Multisite, splitting content across multiple sites.
✅ Faster queries and reduced server load
✅ Separation of large custom post type datasets
✅ Future-ready for additional post types like Agenda and Vacatures
This approach ensured the site could handle thousands of dynamic posts without sacrificing performance.
SEO Keywords Used: WordPress multisite migration, scalable WordPress architecture, WordPress database optimization
Step 2: Dynamic Content With Elementor + JetEngine
We leveraged Crocoblock’s JetEngine with Elementor Pro to create dynamic custom post types and relational structures:
✅ Custom Post Types: Wetenschappers, Projects, Programs, Publications, Themes, Agenda, Vacatures, Special Projects
✅ Dynamic Relationships: Scientists linked to Projects, Programs, and Publications
✅ Elementor Theme Builder for custom single and archive templates
Why this matters:
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Content managers can easily link scientists to multiple initiatives
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Visitors experience seamless content discovery
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Every post type has its own optimized template for UX and SEO
SEO Keywords Used: Elementor WordPress website, Crocoblock JetEngine, custom post types WordPress, dynamic WordPress content
Step 3: AJAX Filtering With JetSmartFilters
Modern users expect instant results—so we implemented AJAX-based filtering with JetSmartFilters:
✅ Filter scientists by themes, SDGs, and availability
✅ Dynamic pop-ups for profiles without page reloads
✅ Faster search experience improves user engagement and SEO signals
This real-time filtering turned static content into a fully interactive knowledge hub.
SEO Keywords Used: AJAX filtering WordPress, JetSmartFilters tutorial, WordPress front-end filtering, interactive WordPress site
Step 4: Custom Airtable API Integration
Managing hundreds of scientists manually was unsustainable. Our solution? Automate everything.
✅ Custom WordPress plugin to sync Airtable → WordPress
✅ CRON job every 8 hours for automated profile updates
✅ Media sync with fallback images for missing photos
✅ Manual sync button and error logging for admin control
This Airtable API integration with WordPress eliminated manual data entry and ensured the site is always up-to-date.
SEO Keywords Used: WordPress Airtable integration, Airtable API sync WordPress, CRON automation WordPress, WordPress automation plugin
Step 5: Special Projects as Mini-Sites
Het Groene Brein frequently launches special initiatives that need their own look and feel. We built a mini-site architecture:
✅ Dedicated landing pages, menus, and footers per project
✅ News archives and single-post templates isolated per initiative
✅ SEO-friendly but still part of the main domain
This allows the team to launch new projects quickly without redesigning the main site.
SEO Keywords Used: WordPress mini-site, multisite landing pages, WordPress for NGOs, Elementor custom layouts
Step 6: Performance & SEO Optimization
No dynamic WordPress project is complete without performance and SEO optimization:
✅ Lazy loading and optimized database queries for speed
✅ Yoast SEO for better indexing and rich snippets
✅ Dynamic breadcrumbs and meta boxes to improve internal linking
✅ Optimized excerpts and content blocks for SEO word count and engagement
SEO Keywords Used: WordPress SEO optimization, Yoast SEO tips, WordPress speed optimization, Elementor performance
✅ The Result
The final website is a highly scalable, automated, and SEO-ready WordPress Multisite:
✅ Scientist profiles sync automatically from Airtable
✅ Thousands of interlinked posts are instantly searchable
✅ Admins can launch new content types without slowing the site
✅ Users enjoy an interactive, AJAX-powered experience
✅ Search engines love the optimized structure and metadata
Het Groene Brein now has a living, self-sustaining knowledge hub, perfectly aligned with their mission of accelerating sustainable innovation. 🌱
Final Thoughts
If your organization needs a scalable WordPress solution with dynamic content, custom API integrations, and SEO-first architecture, this case study is a proven blueprint.