Atlas of Belgium

Summary

O. Tulippe describes the organization, cartographic design, and publication programme of the Atlas de Belgique. The Belgian National Committee of Geography established a permanent atlas commission in 1946. Its plan comprises about fifty plates covering Belgium’s European setting, cartography and geophysics, physical and biological geography, population, economy, regions, and administrative divisions; the article identifies plates already published. The folio format accommodates a national map at 1:500,000 or groups of smaller-scale maps, sometimes with graphs. Natural-environment maps extend into neighbouring territories where possible, while statistical maps generally remain within Belgium. Notices on the reverse explain compilation procedures and, where applicable, principal sources. A separate commentary series, approved in 1956 and already partly published, provides descriptive and explanatory texts by plate authors in the two national languages. Tulippe presents the projected collection as a geographical encyclopedia of Belgium. He regards the atlas as a basis for scientific geographical analysis and as useful to teaching, administration, and business, while also advocating its use to promote Belgium abroad and improve citizens’ knowledge of their country.