Belgium

A. de Ghellinck

This article expounds on the national geographical atlas as a crucial indicator of a country's level of scientific geographical development and public appreciation thereof. It first distinguishes national atlases from ordinary dictionary-style atlases (e.g., Stieler, Bartholomew), noting that the latter merely accumulate geographical information, whereas a national atlas provides a systematic, comprehensive, and in-depth scholarly presentation of a country's geographical phenomena. The article then reviews national atlas projects undertaken since Canada's pioneering work in 1906, including those of Finland, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Italy, the Soviet Union, France, and Estonia. Against this backdrop, it focuses on the history of planning the Atlas of Belgium by the Belgian National Committee of Geography, from the initial 1932 report, through the expanded 1937 project, to the establishment of the Atlas Commission in 1946. It details the adopted working methods, the in-folio format with a 1:500,000 scale, and the comprehensive plan of 49 plates covering geophysics, geomorphology, climatology, hydrography, biogeography, human, agricultural, industrial, commercial, regional, and political geography. The article highlights the crucial roles of the Military Geographical Institute for execution and state funding, concluding that the atlas represents a major scientific undertaking for the nation.

O. Tulippe

This article presents the post-war launch of the Atlas of Belgium, a national geographical atlas initiated by the Belgian National Committee of Geography. The project, whose general plan had been finalized before the war, was resumed after liberation under the direction of a dedicated sub-commission. The atlas aims to systematically document Belgium's physical and human geography through approximately fifty plates, covering topics such as topography, geology, climate, hydrology, biogeography, population, agriculture, industry, commerce, and regional geography. Each plate includes explanatory text and respects the country's bilingual framework. Technical execution is entrusted to the Military Geographical Institute, ensuring high-quality cartography. With government funding, the first plates have been published, and the committee plans to release six to eight plates annually. The project represents a significant scholarly effort to standardize and disseminate geographical knowledge at the national level.

Paul Fourmarier

The National Atlas of Belgium is a systematic and comprehensive exposition of the country's scientific geography. Unlike ordinary atlases that offer a synthetic representation of key facts, it provides an in-depth analysis of geographical phenomena, serving as an invaluable tool for geographers and professionals requiring knowledge of Belgium's physical, human, and economic environment. Initiated by the National Committee of Geography, the project underwent lengthy preparation and was planned to include 52 plates covering physical geography, biogeography, human geography, economic geography, regional geography, and administration, supplemented by explanatory notes and aerial photographs. Despite challenges such as reduced government funding, the project is over half complete thanks to collaborative efforts, and accompanying commentaries are underway, aiming to equip Belgium with the most modern geographical documentation.

Omer Tulippe

This article aims to define the concept and role of the emerging discipline of "applied geography." The author first points out that although the term is recent, the practice of applied geography has a venerable history, dating back to Marshal Vauban's "La Dîme royale." By comparing the developmental paths of France and Great Britain, the article reveals different ways in which geography transitioned from pure science to application: while French academic geography theoretically recognized regional geography as the basis for application, its practical implementation was slow, accompanied by concerns among leading scholars about disciplinary fragmentation; in contrast, British geographers directly engaged in national and regional planning surveys, allowing applied geography to flourish. The author emphasizes that regional geography, due to its holistic understanding of the environment, serves as the primary entry point for geography to serve society, but its application requires multidisciplinary teamwork. Subsequently, the article details the Belgian situation, citing how studies of regions like Tournaisis, Borinage, and Belgian Lorraine led the government to enlist geographers for regional planning, and outlines the contributions of Belgian university geography institutes (e.g., University of Liège) in teaching and practicing applied geography. Furthermore, the article reviews progress in other French universities (Strasbourg, Rennes, Bordeaux), including research training internships, the creation of a chair in applied geography, and the establishment of an applied humanities institute. Finally, the author calls for the systematic organization of applied geography teaching, noting that this discipline, as a logical extension of pure geography, is gaining increasing recognition among geographers.

O. Tulippe

This article presents the background, organizational framework, compilation plan, and publication progress of the Atlas of Belgium. It first distinguishes national atlases from dictionary-type atlases, emphasizing their role as systematic scientific tools for presenting a country's geographical knowledge. The article details the project's development since 1932 under the National Committee of Geography, including the establishment of the Atlas Commission in 1946. It provides the complete plan of the atlas, covering eight major sections—physical geography, biogeography, human geography, economic geography, regional geography, and administration—totaling over fifty plates. Technical specifications such as format, scales, and multilingual presentation are described. The publication status is reported: approximately thirty plates have been printed by the Military Geographical Institute since 1948, with subscription details provided. The author concludes by highlighting the atlas's contributions to advancing geographical research in Belgium, fostering international academic exchange, and enhancing national education.

O. Tulippe

This article presents the background, content, and publication of the Atlas du Survey National, a national atlas of Belgium. Originating from a 1947 proposal by the National Planning Commission to provide a scientific basis for future national land-use planning, the atlas was compiled by the National Survey Service, established in 1949 within the Administration of Urbanism. Based on the administrative map of Belgium, the atlas covers twenty thematic categories including climate, orography, population, agriculture, industry, transport, tourism, and housing. By 1957, sixty colored plates had been published, each accompanied by explanatory notes. The article also discusses the atlas's distribution, related studies, and acknowledgments. This publication placed Belgium among the few countries possessing such a national atlas.

Ena L. Yonge

This article provides a comprehensive review of national atlases published worldwide up to the time of writing. It notes that since the Geographical Review first coined the term 'Age of National Atlases' in 1940, the surge of nationalism after World War II has greatly accelerated the production and scope of such atlases. The author surveys 26 published national atlases and 3 in preparation. The article first emphasizes that a national atlas aims to portray all aspects of a country—physical, economic, and social—and highlights a welcome trend: the inclusion of map titles, legends, and text summaries in English or French for atlases published in less familiar languages. The review is then organized by region. For Europe, it details atlases from Austria (Atlas von Niederösterreich), Belgium (Atlas de Belgique), France (revised Atlas de France), and Germany (Deutscher Planungsatlas, specifically Atlas von Berlin), among others, discussing their institutional backing, content structure, scales, cartographic techniques, and unique features, such as Berlin's depiction of wartime damage and postwar development, and Belgium's detailed demographic and agricultural maps. Atlases from Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, and Norway are also mentioned. For Africa, the planned Atlas du Maroc is described. For Oceania, the Atlas of Australian Resources is reviewed, highlighting its origin in post-war resource assessment, its effective use of a large scale, and its focus on water resources and population distribution. For North America, the article reports on the progress of a Canadian national atlas and the initiation of the National Atlas of the United States, a collaborative federal effort to compile standardized thematic maps from various government agencies. The article concludes that these national atlases represent significant achievements in geographic and cartographic scholarship, serving as invaluable resources for students, planners, and businesses.

O. Tulippe

This article, written by Professor O. Tulippe of the University of Liège, systematically presents two national atlases being compiled in Belgium: the "Atlas de Belgique" and the "Atlas du Survey National". The Atlas de Belgique, published by the National Committee of Geography, belongs to the series of national atlases and differs fundamentally from dictionary-style atlases (such as Stieler, Bartholomew, etc.). A national atlas is not a simple accumulation of geographic information but a systematic and complete scientific exposition of a country's geography, analyzing each geographical phenomenon in detail and methodically. It is explanatory in nature and serves as an essential basic scientific tool for geographers. It also acts as an infallible test of the development level of scientific geography in the publishing country and the attention it receives from the educated public. It provides useful and reliable documentation for scientists, teachers, businessmen, officials, and military personnel, and serves as an excellent ambassador and propaganda agent abroad, as well as helping compatriots understand their own country. Internationally, many countries have published or are publishing their national atlases, such as Canada (1906), Finland (1925-1928), and others. The International Geographical Congress in Rio de Janeiro in 1956 established a Commission on National Atlases. Belgian geographers began working on this early on, with the National Committee of Geography making it a primary concern. After preliminary studies, a detailed plan of about fifty plates was adopted in 1938, and a permanent commission was established in 1946 to execute it. The article details the plan of the Atlas de Belgique, covering six major sections: Belgium in Europe, Cartography and Geophysics, Physical Geography, Biogeography, Human Geography, and Economic Geography, noting the authors and publication status of each plate. The second part introduces the Atlas du Survey National, published by the Administration of Urbanism of the Ministry of Public Works and Reconstruction. Based on the Atlas de Belgique, it aims to provide detailed documentation directly useful for spatial planning. Since late 1954, 60 plates have been published, covering topics such as population movements, age structure, active population and commuting, unemployment, tourism, protection of landscapes and monuments, housing, and urban equipment. Most plates are at a scale of 1:1,000,000 on a municipal base map. The article concludes by noting the complementary nature of the two atlases and plans for a commentary on the Survey National Atlas, with preliminary studies already published in the Cahiers d'Urbanisme.

Omer Tulippe

This article presents the Atlas of the National Survey (Atlas du Survey National), published by the Administration of Urban Planning of the Ministry of Public Works as a preparatory survey for Belgian territorial planning. The author, serving as Special Commissioner for the National Survey, explains the atlas's objectives, methodology, and its complementary relationship with the Atlas of Belgium. Since its inception in 1954, the atlas has comprised 60 colored plates at a scale of 1:1,000,000, mostly based on municipal maps, accompanied by explanatory notes and commentaries. The article also describes the acquisition procedure and ongoing negotiations with the Ministry of Education for distributing copies to educational institutions.

O. Tulippe

This article presents the background, content, and publication of the Atlas of the National Survey (Atlas du Survey National) of Belgium. Originating from a proposal by the National Planning Commission in 1947, the atlas was conceived to systematically collect, integrate, and map fundamental data on the Belgian territory, thereby providing a scientific basis for spatial planning and urban development. Compiled by the National Survey Service under the Administration of Urbanism, the atlas covers twenty thematic categories, including climate, orography, hydrography, soils, population, agriculture, industry, transport, tourism, and nature protection, with 73 plates published to date. The article emphasizes that the atlas complements the Atlas of Belgium, combining static distribution maps with analyses of recent evolution, and employing standardized scales and cartographic conventions to serve as a valuable reference for planning decisions at national, regional, and local levels.

O. Tulippe

This article presents the organizational framework, compilation plan, and scholarly significance of the National Atlas of Belgium. Led by the Belgian National Committee of Geography, the atlas systematically depicts the country's physical, human, and economic geography through approximately fifty thematic plates covering topography, geology, climate, population, agriculture, industry, and transportation. Each plate is accompanied by technical notes, and explanatory commentaries are published separately, forming a comprehensive geographical encyclopedia. The article emphasizes that the atlas serves not only as a fundamental tool for geographical research but also as a valuable reference for public administration, business decisions, and international cultural exchange, while enhancing national awareness of the country's geographical environment.

Ena L. Yonge

This article provides a systematic summary review of approximately one hundred regional atlases from around the world, organized primarily by continent (or other large region) and then alphabetically by country within each group. The author begins by noting that the ever-increasing flood of atlases—national, regional, topical, and special—makes individual reviews impossible, thus necessitating summary evaluations to acknowledge important publications while respecting space constraints. The review covers representative works from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, North America, and South America, encompassing road atlases, historical-geographical atlases, national atlases, climatic atlases, economic atlases, and school atlases. Each atlas is assessed in terms of its compiling institution, editors, scales, number of plates, content structure, cartographic techniques, printing quality, and scholarly value, with notable features and shortcomings highlighted. For instance, the European section evaluates works such as the Euroatlas, Atlas östliches Mitteleuropa, Atlas von Niederösterreich, Atlas de Belgique, Climatic Atlas of Czechoslovakia, Atlas of Denmark, and Atlas of Finland, while the American section covers state atlases from Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia, as well as national atlases from Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. The article emphasizes that these atlases not only reflect the research standards of geography and cartography in their respective countries but also serve as vital references for regional planning, economic development, historical research, and education. The author concludes by acknowledging that no single individual can possess sufficient expertise across all aspects of geography, cartography, and linguistics to render definitive critical judgments, yet such summaries offer valuable guidance to scholars, with a forthcoming review of world atlases and special atlases announced.

Firmin Lentacker

This article reviews four newly published plates (Nos. 23, 25, 26, and 29; 1959-1962) of the National Atlas of Belgium, prepared and annotated by Professor Tulippe of the University of Liège. Plate 23 presents population density by municipality for 1846, 1880, 1900, and 1930 across four maps, revealing the evolution of Belgian population distribution since the 19th century—notably the concentration along the Haine-Sambre-Meuse industrial axis, the disintegration of the formerly compact high-density zone in interior Flanders, and the strengthening of densities in the Ghent-Antwerp-Brussels triangle, described as the "true demographic center of gravity of Belgium." Plates 25 and 26 map birth rates (1880, 1910, 1930, 1947), death rates (1880, 1947), and foreign population (1910, 1947) by municipality, with substantial commentary illuminating the complexity of Belgian demographic phenomena and nuancing the simplistic view of an expanding Flanders versus a declining Wallonia. Plate 29 depicts forest distribution in 1951 with an inset showing forest area at the end of the 18th century based on the Ferraris map, offering an excellent human and economic geography perspective on Belgian forests. The nearly complete National Atlas of Belgium deserves high praise and serves as a model achievement by Belgian geographers.

The Belgian National Atlas, after eighteen years of dedicated work by geographers from four universities, is nearing completion, with ten additional maps required before publication, ultimately comprising sixty-three maps. Initiated by the Belgian National Committee of Geography, it receives support from the Belgian Government. A new air link has been established between Ethiopia and India, with Air India services now stopping at Entebbe and Addis Ababa weekly on flights between Bombay and Nairobi. In a letter to the editor, a correspondent responds to remarks by 'Geography Graduate' in the November issue of The Geographical Magazine, arguing that knowledge is a continuum and geography uniquely bridges the physical and psycho-social realms, between Science and Arts. The author emphasizes geography's status as an academic discipline with empirical and inductive traditions, enriched by statistical methods enabling objective reasoning and quantification. Additionally, for the first time since the International Geographical Union's founding in 1871, its meetings will be held in an Asian country, following the Indian Government's invitation accepted by President S. P. Chatterjee, with arrangements underway for the International Geographical Association meetings in India.

李海晨

This article reviews the compilation characteristics and content structures of national atlases of Belgium, Canada, and the United States. The Atlas de Belgique (compiled 1947-1972), published in loose-leaf format in 6° size, includes maps of natural conditions and socio-economic aspects, with particularly detailed geological, forest, and population distribution maps. Economic maps combine dot and choropleth methods, accompanied by extensive annotations. The National Atlas of Canada (4th edition, 1974), published by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, contains 254 map pages at various scales, including satellite imagery, covering physical geography, population, economy, and historical evolution, primarily based on statistical data. The National Atlas of the United States (1970), compiled by the Geological Survey with 84 cooperating agencies, completes the review. All three atlases reflect distinctive national geographic characteristics and representative compilation methods, serving as important references for regional planning and resource development.

Pierre de Béthune

This article presents the background, content, and significance of the Second Atlas of Belgium. Initiated by the Belgian National Committee of Geography, this project aims to update and expand upon the first atlas published between 1950 and 1972. The second edition plans 94 plates covering physical geography, population, economy, and transport, introducing innovations such as the 1:250,000 scale. Despite budgetary constraints, the project benefits from voluntary collaboration among university geographers and new technologies like automated cartography. The atlas serves domestic education, research, and administration while enhancing Belgium's international visibility.

Etienne Van Hecke

This article reviews the development of the National Atlas of Belgium, focusing on the background, content, and innovations of the Third Atlas of Belgium. It points out that the previous two editions suffered from long production times, high costs, and outdated data. Based on the 2001 socio-economic survey, the third atlas covers six themes: political geography, landscape and agriculture, cities, housing, economic activities, and population, utilizing computer cartography for improved timeliness and flexibility. Additionally, a web atlas was developed to supplement and update the printed version. This atlas serves as a vital reference for geography education, policy-making, and public understanding of Belgium's spatial structures.