Kantbanken

Kantbanken is a Dutch term that literally translates to edge banks and is used in Dutch-language contexts to refer to a set of bank-related concepts. In geomorphology, kantbanken describes a conspicuous, often vertical or overhanging bank edge formed where river or coastal sediments are cut and exposed by erosion. The feature typically marks a boundary between sedimentation zones and actively eroding surfaces, and it may appear as a cliff-like face along a riverbank or coastal bluff. Kantbanken can consist of layered sediments, sometimes with notable stratification, and may be associated with rapid slope instability under saturated conditions.

Formation and occurrence: Kantbanken develop when a channel incision or sea-level change exposes older sediments, while ongoing sediment supply fills lower parts of the profile. Differential weathering, freeze-thaw cycles, and groundwater flow can drive mass wasting that enlarges the bank over time. They are studied in river engineering and coastal geomorphology to understand erosion patterns, sediment transport, and floodplain connectivity.

Context and usage: The term is primarily found in Dutch-language sources and is not universally standardized; in English-language literature similar features are commonly termed river cliffs, cut banks, or bluff faces. In historical or land-management records, kantbanken may also appear with a supplementary meaning referring to boundary or border banks along fields and waterways.

See also: river cliff, bank erosion, river morphology, coastal cliff.

Notes: As with many geomorphological terms, definitions and scope can vary by region and author.