Deux atlas de caractère national en Belgique

Summary

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.