Noorderbreedte

Noorderbreedte is a Dutch term that refers to the latitude coordinate of a location measured from the Equator, expressed in degrees north, and typically used in Dutch geographic, cartographic, and navigation contexts. The word is a direct translation of the English “north latitude” and is employed in official documentation, postal addressing, and the Dutch national geodetic reference system. A typical notation is “52°30' North” or “52,5° N.” The term is distinct from other Dutch words for geographic coordinates, such as “lengtegraad,” which means longitude.

In practice, noorderbreedte values are crucial for accurately locating points on the Earth's surface, for mapping large-scale geographic features, and for integrating geographic information systems (GIS). The Rijksinstituut voor Landmeting (RILM) publishes officially adopted latitude values in its geodetic grid, assisting surveyors and planners in standardizing measurements across the Netherlands. The system is also used by meteorologists, maritime authorities, and navigation services to provide coordinates in navigation charts and weather reports.

Historically, noorderbreedte emerged with the development of systematic geographic surveying during the 19th century, and it has since become the normative term for latitude in Dutch-language literature and institutional records. Understanding noorderbreedte is essential for professionals working with spatial data in the Netherlands, as it ensures consistency and precision in location-based applications.