The Human Scope of Cartography – towards a new national atlas of the Netherlands

Marc de Smidt outlines the planned twenty-volume second edition of Atlas van Nederland, scheduled in this account for publication between 1984 and 1988. He describes a problem-oriented approach organised around population and settlements, human welfare, economic activities, natural resources and environment, and physical planning. Natural-resource topics are also framed through human uses and environmental pressures. The proposed volumes combine geographical explanations with thematic maps, cartograms, diagrams and other illustrations, using scales and representations suited to each subject. De Smidt explains how an eleven-member editorial committee, about sixty contributors and the atlas bureau coordinate compilation, with Nico J. Bakker overseeing editorial and cartographic work. Each volume is designed to contain 40–60 maps within 24 pages, with illustrations occupying about 65 percent of the space. The project aims to reach a broad Dutch readership while retaining scientific analysis; international summaries, translated legends and an abridged edition remain options under discussion.