Geodetic Base of Ostend

The Geodetic Base of Ostend is a distance between fixed points that was measured very accurately in 1853 with a view to drawing up a new map of Belgium.

After Belgian Independence (1830 Belgian Revolution), the ''Dépôt de la Guerre et de la Topographie'' was commissioned to create a new map of Belgium for official and military use.

For the creation of the new map of Belgium, three Geodetic Bases , in the three points of the triangle that forms Belgium, were to be measured accurately. In 1851 and 1852, the Geodetic Base of Lommel was measured, the Geodetic Base of Ostend was measured in 1853. The planned measurement of a third base in the province of Luxembourg was not realized.

For the Geodetic Base of Ostend three measuring points A, B and C were placed on the east side of the road Ostend-Torhout. The measuring took place from 27 May to 23 July 1853. The distance was recorded at 2488.837196 meters.

From the Geodetic Base of Ostend the positions of 7 surrounding 'geodesic points' were determined, namely 6 towers in the region and a 'geodesic signal' placed in Zandvoorde in 1853 (see diagram ). The measuring points A, B and C of the geodetic base of Ostend were lost due to the widening of the highway and the expansion of the Ostend airport. The geodetic signal, a cast iron pole with the inscription 'Station Géodésique', still stands on the Polderdijk in Zandvoorde (Ostend).

willem vandenameele