Pierre de Béthune · 1984
Pierre de Béthune introduces the Second Atlas of Belgium and reproduces an account by its National Atlas Commission. He recalls the first atlas, published by the National Committee of Geography in 1950–1972: its 65 plates were drawn and printed by the National Geographic Institute (IGN) following a plan by Michotte and Lefevre. Under Roger-E. De Smet, the second atlas was intended to update and expand that coverage through 94 planned plates on physical geography, population, settlement, economy and regions. Only a few plates had appeared, including historical map samples and demographic and socioeconomic maps; de Béthune cites the comparison of unemployment in 1970 and 1980 to illustrate the need for updated mapping. The principal scale remained 1:500,000, with 1:250,000 mapping planned for soils, geomorphology and population density by statistical sector. The commission describes unpaid scientific collaboration across Belgian university geography institutes, joint editorial work with IGN and automated production of most maps. It warns that an annual subsidy left unadjusted for 35 years and subsequently cut threatened the programme, while National Lottery support offered relief. Education, research, economic and administrative use, and greater knowledge of Belgium abroad, are presented as intended benefits.
