Putting Geography on the map in The Netherlands

In Royal Dutch Geographical Society was founded in 1873. Initially, the main aim of the Society was to increase the scientific knowledge of the world and the earth. Expeditions were organized into unknown territories. The members of the expeditions also had an eye on the commercial possibilities of the areas they explored. Reminders from that period - like authentic maps and original expedition equipment - are lent to various museums in The Netherlands where they are on display. In total, around forty expeditions have been organized under the auspices of the Society. All the mapping, making inventories and collecting samples has resulted in an impressive heritage.

When the need to explore vanished, the Society turned its focus to the Dutch geographers and geography in The Netherlands. Modern-day KNAG focuses on stressing the distinctive characteristics of geography as subject and profession. Besides this, the society provides services for its members and functions as a meeting place to share ideas, knowledge and information. Today, the Society is the professional association of geographers, geography students and geography teachers with well  over 3000 members. The promotion of geography in general, and the improvement of its position in secondary and higher education and in scientific and applied research, are main tasks carried out by the Society. It offers a venue for discussion and activities among geographers in a range of professions in research, education, management, policy etcetera. Members come from both the public and the private sector and at they operate at the national as well as the international level.

Koninklijk Nederlands Aardrijkskundig Genootschap (KNAG)
Ganzenmarkt 6

P.O. Box 805
3500 AV Utrecht
The Netherlands

Tel. +31-30-2361202

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Websites: www.knag.nl; www.geografie.nl

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