vastomlijnde

Vastomlijnde is a term used in Dutch-language contexts to denote something that has fixed, non-changing boundaries. The word derives from vast, meaning fixed, and omlijnde, meaning bounded or enclosed.

In geography, urban planning, and related fields, vastomlijnde areas or datasets are defined by a clearly specified boundary—usually a polygon with precise coordinates. The boundary is maintained over time, and changes occur only through formal procedures such as legal amendments, zoning reallocations, or cadastral updates. This fixed character is intended to provide stability for analysis, planning, and governance.

Common applications include cadastral parcels and administrative jurisdictions, nature reserves, and statistical regions used for regional planning or performance measurement. In digital mapping and geographic information systems, vastomlijnde geometries offer stable reference frames that support comparisons across years and datasets, ensuring that analyses are conducted on the same spatial basis.

Limitations and considerations include the fact that fixed boundaries can hamper the representation of dynamic landscapes and populations. They require governance processes to revise boundaries, which can be costly or slow. Additionally, terminology and definitions may vary by country or discipline, leading to inconsistent usage in non-technical contexts.

See also: fixed boundary, cadastral boundary, administrative boundary.