The GBKN (Large-scale Base Map of the Netherlands, Dutch “Grootschalige Basiskaart van Nederland”) was the detailed digital topographic base map of the Netherlands, showing buildings, parcels, roads and water at a scale of roughly 1:500 to 1:2000. The map long served as an accurate underlay for design, permitting and management.
What the GBKN contained
The GBKN mapped the physical reality of the Netherlands in detail. The map included, among other things:
- Buildings — the outlines of structures and outbuildings
- Parcels — the boundaries of plots and properties
- Roads and paths — paved and unpaved infrastructure
- Water — ditches, canals, ponds and banks
- Other objects — such as railway lines and engineering structures
Because of its large scale, the map could show far more detail than an ordinary topographic map, which made it suitable for precise work.
Application
The GBKN was widely used in building and planning practice. Architects and designers used the map as an underlay for their drawings, so that a new design fitted exactly within the existing situation. When applying for permits, the map provided a reliable basis for setting out a foundation or determining parcel boundaries. Municipalities, utility companies and water boards also relied on the GBKN to manage their areas.
Merged into the BGT
The GBKN no longer exists as a standalone map. It has been merged into the BGT, the Key Register of Large-scale Topography (Basisregistratie Grootschalige Topografie). The BGT is the official, legally mandated successor and provides a uniform, nationwide map of the entire Netherlands at large scale. Anyone needing a detailed topographic underlay today therefore consults the BGT.
Related terms
- Foundation
- Facade
- Concrete
- Topography
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