Bro — Soil map of the Netherlands 1:50.000

This dataset shows several aspects of the updated Soil Map of the Netherlands, scale 1: 50 000 (version 2021) and related files, such as: — the soil types; — the areas where associations of soil types occur; — particularities in the soil layers within a depth of 40 cm; — particularities in the bottom layers deeper than 40 cm; — the peat thicknesses; — and areas with buildings and water. Compared to the previous version of the soil map, the information on the peatlands has been updated and the table of attributes has been changed. In this version, without the information about the Groundwater Steps (Gt, these together with other groundwater mirror depth characteristics can be found in a separate dataset, the ‘Model Groundwater Mirror Depth’ will be available for the BRO by 1/1/2022 at the latest). The soil map provides spatial information about the soil structure to a global depth of 1 meter. This information relates to the nature and composition of the upper surface (ground type) with a further subdivision by soil formation, peat species, deviating layers in the profile and the presence of lime. Updating of the soil map of the peatlands was necessary because the oxidation of organic matter in peat soils and moist soils causes a change due to the gradual digestion of superficial peat layers. This allows peatlands to turn into murky soils and moist soils into mineral soils. Since the first inclusion of the soil map, many built-up sites have been added as a result of urban expansion and new industrial sites. The original soil map shows the built-up areas of some size separately. A soil code has been established for the newly built-up areas at the time of updating. A separate file includes the limitation of the current building. In built-up areas, the soil structure may differ from the soil code, because major land improvement works have been carried out during the preparation of construction. This should be taken into account when using the data. In addition, major tillage has been carried out in many areas in the Netherlands. The original soil map contained an attribute “SCHOP” which provided information on soil profile disturbance. In 2010, these areas were extensively inventoried and mapped with intervention. These excavations are now included in a separate file (excavated soils). The update concerned the areas with murky soils and thin peatlands in the Netherlands and the peat meadows with thick peatlands in the province of Friesland. A total of about 400 000 ha has been updated. With the exception of a fragment in South-East-Drenthe, the update was achieved by means of digital soil mapping (DBK). In South East-Drenthe, the update was carried out by means of an extensive field inventory, as well as for the first recording of the soil map. (more information about the method can be found under Quality)