----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Yael, I can give you only a partial answer to your question. In her latest progress-report 1992-1994 concerning France, Monique Pelletier (Director Department of Maps and Plans of the Bibliotheque Nationale de France) writes: "Dans le cadre des travaux de la Commission Nationale de Toponymie du Conseil National de l'Information Geographique (CNIG), une reflexion francophone (France et Quebec) est en cours sur la structure des donnees concernant les toponymes. Seront notamment prises en compte les solutions adoptees pour la base BN-Opaline" If I remember right a geographic name list has been prepared in cooperation amongst others between the Bibliotheque Nationale de France and IGN (Institut Geographique Nationale) which contains the names of all 36,000 communes, which includes also all historical entries. The Geographic names thesaurus op BN-Opaline contains appr. 215,000 entries. I advise you to contact Monique Pelletier directly: Bibliotheque Nationale de France Departement des Cartes et Plans 58, Rue Richelieu F-75084 Paris CEDEX 02 tel: +33-1-47038369 (unfortunately no e-mail) In Belgium the situation is not known. This may also be dependent on the new federal structure which inhibits partly cooperation. However, also here I advise you to contact: IGN (Institut Geographique National) K. van Doren Abbaye de la Cambre 13 B-1050 Bruxelles tel: +32-2-6486480 Jan Smits Mapcurator Royal Library, National Library of The Netherlands [log in to unmask]