Characteristic landforms

The Netherlands has many and varied landforms with a recognisable genesis. Building, levelling and other excavation have, however, destroyed many of these throughout the country.

Current situation

The characteristic landforms in the Netherlands have been created by glaciers and meltwater (ice-pushed ridges, sandurs), the wind (coversand undulations, coastal dunes), water (natural levees, abandoned channels), and also by people (dwelling mounds. Many of the landforms have been destroyed by large-scale reclamations, land consolidation schemes, excavations and the levelling of areas prior to constructing roads or buildings. Fortunately, remnants remain, scattered throughout the country.

Technical note

The occurrence of characteristic landforms has been assessed using a selection taken from Maas & Wolfert (1997). The distinctiveness of landforms has been determined per geomorphological landscape type: these are regions with the same geomorphological genesis. In total, 93 geomorphological landscape types have been distinguished. A landform is deemed to be characteristic of a given landscape type if it occurs more frequently within that landscape type than within the Netherlands.

The number of characteristic landforms per area of 1x1 km and the surrounding area of 3x3 km has been determined using the geomorphological database of the landscape ecology survey of the Netherlands (Landschapsecologische Kartering van Nederland: LKN). A higher value has been attached to different characteristic landforms occurring next to each other, because a related set of landforms encapsulates more information on the genesis of the landscape than an isolated landform. To prevent varied areas being assigned a higher value than monotonous yet characteristic areas, some types of characteristic landform have been valued per geomorphological landscape type

References

• Maas, G.J., R.W. de Waal en H.P. Wolfert (1994). Landschapsecologische kartering van Nederland: geomorfologie; toelichting bij het databestand GEOMORF. Rapport 335. DLO Staring Centrum/ LKN-rapport 5. Wageningen.
• Maas, G.J. en H.P. Wolfert (1997). Aardkundige waarden in Nederland: Signalering van kenmerkende en zeldzame gebieden voor een nationale beleidskaart. Rapport 498. DLO-Staring Centrum. Wageningen