A reference dataset for the Neogene lithostratigraphy in Flanders, Belgium

1. Introduction The Neogene state-of-the-art compilation by the Subcommission for Neogene and Paleogene Lithostratigraphy of Belgium, formed an excellent opportunity to collect the data points to which the individual publications refer and to identify these data in the federal and regional databases. Two main data holders provide structured information concerning boreholes and outcrops of the geological subsurface of the northern region of Belgium, where Neogene deposits underlie the Quaternary sediments: (1) the regional Flanders Soil and Subsoil Database (Databank Ondergrond Vlaanderen or DOV), and (2) the federal Geological Survey of Belgium of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (GSB-RBINS). DOV (https://www.dov.vlaanderen.be; 2020) is the public web portal for open data concerning geology, natural resources, soil, hydrogeology, geotechnical characteristics and groundwater licenses of the (sub)soil of Flanders. The Flemish Planning Bureau for the Environment and Spatial Development (VPO) of the Department of Environment & Spatial Development is responsible for the durable management and use of the subsurface, including the natural resources and the deep subsurface (-500 m TAW) (Departement Omgeving, 2020). VPO is also responsible for the geological data and information available on the DOV-platform. In addition, VPO manages the soil data in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders in that domain and coordinates the development of DOV. The GSB-RBINS manages a