Het Waterschapshuis · Rijkswaterstaat · Publieke Dienstverlening Op de Kaart

Dutch source

Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (AHN, national elevation model)

The elevation map of the Netherlands, measured by laser from an aircraft: at least ten measurements per square metre. There are two maps. The terrain model (DTM) is the bare ground. The surface model (DSM) is everything on it, including buildings and trees. Via PDOK as a map layer (WMS), as a raster API (WCS) and as a download.

Housing and land Climate and environmentOpenMap layerDownloadNetherlands · 0.5 metre

Up to date · updated in April 2023 · checked 17:23

The relief of the hills around Valkenburg, from the Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland

Ground level (DTM, 0.5 metre) from PDOK's AHN map service. According to the service's legend, yellow is low (20 to 35 metres above NAP), going through orange (40 to 90 metres) to red-orange (above 100 metres): the light ribbon is the Geul valley, the darker areas are the plateaus. The image comes straight from the service, so you see what the source delivers before downloading anything.

Source: AHN via PDOK (WMS) · opgehaald 25 oktober 2026Open the table Single block

What you can build with it2

ToolClimate risk check for an addressType a postcode and house number and get one report on how the building fares on heat, flooding from rain, flooding from rivers and sea, drought and foundation problems, using the Klimaateffectatlas maps, the AHN elevation model, the BAG and real groundwater measurements from the BRO.4 sourcesAdvanced

ToolSolar panel check for your own roofType a postcode and house number and see how large your roof surfaces are, which way they face, how much sun falls on them and roughly what panels would yield, using open data from BAG, AHN, KNMI and RVO.4 sourcesAdvanced

What can you do with it?4 ideas

Getting started

How high is your street?

Request the elevation at one point from the terrain model. You get metres relative to NAP. Line up a set of addresses and you see which neighbourhood lies below sea level.

Getting started

Measuring buildings without a tape

Subtract the ground from the surface (DSM minus DTM). What remains is the height of buildings, trees and bridges.

Advanced

How much of the neighbourhood lies below NAP?

Clip the terrain model to the neighbourhood boundaries and count the share of cells below 0 metres per neighbourhood. Leave out buildings and water, they have no value in the DTM.

Advanced

Is the ground sinking?

Compare two versions of the AHN at the same spot, for example in the peat meadow area. Note: since AHN5 the model is calculated differently, so preferably compare the new 1 by 1 kilometre tiles, which were re-derived for all versions.

How to process it4 steps

Elevation at one point
A WMS GetFeatureInfo on the dtm_05m layer returns the elevation in metres relative to NAP as JSON (value_list). Use RD coordinates. With a very small bbox (2 by 2 metres) we got an empty response; with 200 by 200 metres and the click in the centre it works.
```
https://service.pdok.nl/rws/ahn/wms/v1_0?service=WMS&version=1.3.0&request=GetFeatureInfo&layers=dtm_05m&query_layers=dtm_05m&styles=&crs=EPSG:28992&bbox=121300,487300,121500,487500&width=200&height=200&i=100&j=100&info_format=application/json
```

A small piece of raster

WCS GetCoverage cuts out a rectangle. 20 by 20 metres gives a GeoTIFF of 40 by 40 cells (float32, just over 3 KB). Choose dtm_05m or dsm_05m.

https://service.pdok.nl/rws/ahn/wcs/v1_0?service=WCS&version=2.0.1&request=GetCoverage&coverageId=dtm_05m&subset=x(121390,121410)&subset=y(487390,487410)&format=image/tiff

Large areas as map tiles
For more than a few hundred metres, download map tiles. PDOK's ATOM feed lists 1,373 tiles of 5 by 6.25 km as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF; the largest are over 500 MB. Look up the tile number first with the kaartbladindex layer.
```
https://service.pdok.nl/rws/actueel-hoogtebestand-nederland/atom/dtm_05m.xml
```
Drop the empty cells
Cells without a measurement have the value 3.4 × 10³⁸ (the largest float32 number). In our test patch in the Oude Kerk area (Amsterdam) that was 813 of the 1,600 cells. Remove them before calculating averages.

Interesting combinations

pandgeometrie (RD)

How tall is every building in the area?

For each building from the BAG, take the highest or median DSM value and subtract the surrounding ground level.

Combine with Addresses and Buildings Register (BAG)

buurtgrens (RD)

Which neighbourhoods lie lowest?

Calculate the median ground level per neighbourhood. Use the same projection (EPSG:28992) for boundaries and raster.

Combine with District and neighbourhood map

Similar sources

D
3DBAG (TU Delft en 3DGI) not in the index yet
All buildings in 3D, derived from the BAG and the AHN. Easier if you only need building heights. CC BY 4.0.
CD
Copernicus DEM not in the index yet
Global surface model at 30 or 90 metres. Coarse, but consistent across borders.
Climate Impact Atlas (Klimaateffectatlas)
Uses the AHN to calculate flood depth and waterlogging. Ready-made maps instead of raw elevation.

What to watch out for

PDOK still has AHN4
The PDOK services contain AHN4, collected from 2020 to 2022 (ATOM feed updated 12 April 2023). The first part of AHN6 (north-east Netherlands, 2025) has been on ahn.nl since 13 October 2025, with its own WMS, WMTS and WCS services.
Holes in the terrain model
Under buildings and on water the DTM has no value. If you need a continuous surface, fill the gaps yourself or use the DSM.
Versions are not directly comparable
Up to AHN4 the DTM was a weighted average, and so was the DSM. Since AHN5 the DTM is an unweighted average and the DSM the highest point; since AHN6 without power lines and pylons. Differences between versions may therefore partly come from the method.
Licence differs per version
AHN4 via PDOK is CC0. For AHN5 and AHN6 the publisher requires attribution (AHN6: CC BY 4.0).
Really big
The whole country at 0.5 metres is 540,000 by 625,000 cells. Work with small extracts or tiles, never the whole country at once.

APIOGC WMS 1.3.0 + WCS 2.0.1 (PDOK) · read 16 Oct 2026

StandardOGC WMS 1.3.0 + WCS 2.0.1 (PDOK)docs

Access no key

No key or account needed tested

Size1,373

DTM 0.5 m map tiles (5 × 6.25 km, Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF) in the ATOM feed; the grid is 540,000 × 625,000 cells tested

Formats

GeoTIFF (float32)pngjpegjson (GetFeatureInfo)COG (download)

Base URL

https://service.pdok.nl/rws/ahn

Endpoints 7

GET/wms/v1_0?service=WMS&request=GetCapabilitiesLayers dtm_05m (terrain), dsm_05m (surface) and kaartbladindex; 9 projections (incl. EPSG:28992, 3857, 4326).
GET/wms/v1_0?service=WMS&version=1.3.0&request=GetMap&layers=dtm_05m&styles=&crs=EPSG:28992&bbox=…&width=…&height=…&format=image/pngMap image (coloured elevation) of a rectangle.
GET/wms/v1_0?service=WMS&version=1.3.0&request=GetFeatureInfo&layers=dtm_05m&query_layers=dtm_05m&crs=EPSG:28992&bbox=…&width=200&height=200&i=100&j=100&info_format=application/jsonElevation at one point in metres relative to NAP (properties.value_list).
GET/wcs/v1_0?service=WCS&request=GetCapabilities&version=2.0.1Coverages dtm_05m and dsm_05m; formats image/tiff, png, jpeg.
GET/wcs/v1_0?service=WCS&version=2.0.1&request=DescribeCoverage&coverageId=dtm_05mExtent (RD 10000,306250 to 280000,618750) and grid (540,000 × 625,000 cells of 0.5 m).
GET/wcs/v1_0?service=WCS&version=2.0.1&request=GetCoverage&coverageId=dtm_05m&subset=x(…)&subset=y(…)&format=image/tiffRaw elevation values as GeoTIFF (float32) for a rectangle in RD.
GEThttps://service.pdok.nl/rws/actueel-hoogtebestand-nederland/atom/dtm_05m.xmlATOM feed with 1,373 map tiles (COG) and kaartbladindex.json (1.1 MB); also dsm_05m.xml.

The APIs of this source 1 · from the provider's documentation from the description

AHN6 en oudere versies via ahn.nl (Ellipsis Drive)

ahn.nl publishes every AHN version (AHN2 to AHN6) as WMS, WMTS and WCS at Ellipsis Drive, plus a tile index as WFS and OGC API Features. AHN6 DTM: 231a4c66-9de9-4f41-91af-e4e991df9160, AHN6 DSM: 22f5740b-1276-42e0-9d2d-dd2a9745e928. The WMS layer is named after an id, projections are EPSG:3857 and 28992. GetFeatureInfo with info_format=text/xml returned 'Gray:6.99399' in central Groningen. AHN6 is CC BY 4.0.

https://api.ellipsis-drive.com/v3/ogc

GET/wms/231a4c66-9de9-4f41-91af-e4e991df9160?request=getCapabilitiesWMS van AHN6 DTM 0,5 m (laagnaam en projecties)
GET/wms/231a4c66-9de9-4f41-91af-e4e991df9160?service=WMS&version=1.3.0&request=GetFeatureInfo&layers={laag-id}&query_layers={laag-id}&crs=EPSG:28992&bbox=…&width=200&height=200&i=100&j=100&info_format=text/xmlHoogte op een punt (antwoord als platte tekst 'Gray:<waarde>')
GET/wcs/231a4c66-9de9-4f41-91af-e4e991df9160?request=getCapabilities&version=1.1.1WCS 1.1.1 van AHN6 DTM
GET/wfs/0820faae-5240-499b-8486-cf406433cf71?request=getCapabilitiesKaartbladindex AHN6 als WFS (ook /features/… als OGC API)

Filtering tested

No query language: you pick a layer, a rectangle (bbox or subset) and optionally a pixel.

Parameters 6

`layers / coverageId`	dtm_05m = terrain (bare ground), dsm_05m = surface (with buildings and trees); WMS also has kaartbladindex.	tested
`crs / bbox`	WMS: crs=EPSG:28992 with bbox=xmin,ymin,xmax,ymax in metres (RD). Also EPSG:3857, 4326, 4258, 25831, 25832, 3034, 3035, CRS:84.	tested
`i, j, width, height`	GetFeatureInfo: the pixel within the image whose value you want. 200×200 px over 200×200 m with i=j=100 gives the centre.	tested
`info_format`	application/json (GeoJSON with value_list), application/vnd.ogc.gml, text/xml …	tested
`subset`	WCS: pass twice, subset=x(121390,121410)&subset=y(487390,487410), in RD metres.	tested
`format`	WCS: image/tiff returns float32 values in metres; png and jpeg are images only.	tested

Fields in the GetFeatureInfo response 3

Name	Type	Meaning
`value_list`	String · m	Hoogte in meters t.o.v. NAP, als tekst ('1.353800058')
`geometry.coordinates`	Point	Middelpunt van de cel waaruit de waarde komt (RD)
`bbox`	array	Zelfde punt als rechthoek

Limits and pitfalls

No key and no documented limit. Keep WCS cut-outs small (20 × 20 m = 3.4 KB); for large areas download the map tiles (up to over 500 MB per tile). tested
PDOK has AHN4 (collected 2020–2022, ATOM updated 12 April 2023). Newer versions (AHN5, the first part of AHN6) are only on ahn.nl, via Ellipsis Drive (see components). tested
With a very small bbox (2 × 2 m, 4 × 4 px) GetFeatureInfo returned an empty list; 200 × 200 m at 200 px with i=j=100 works. experience
Cells without a measurement (buildings and water in the DTM) have the value 3.4028235e38 in the GeoTIFF. In 20 × 20 m of central Amsterdam that was 813 of 1,600 cells. Filter them out. experience
There is no WFS and no WMTS at service.pdok.nl/rws/ahn (404). The tile index is a WMS layer and a JSON file in the ATOM feed. tested
The same address also works as service.pdok.nl/rws/actueel-hoogtebestand-nederland/…; the ATOM feed is only under that long name. experience

Try it HTTP 200 · 394 ms · 16 Oct

https://service.pdok.nl/rws/ahn/wms/v1_0?service=WMS&version=1.3.0&request=GetFeatureInfo&layers=dtm_05m&query_layers=dtm_05m&styles=&crs=EPSG:28992&bbox=121300,487300,121500,487500&width=200&height=200&i=100&j=100&info_format=application/json

{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "features": [
    {
      "type": "Feature",
      "bbox": [
        121398.75,
        487402.25
      ],
      "geometry": {
        "type": "Point",
        "coordinates": "…"
      },
      "properties": {
        "value_list": "1.353800058"
      }
    }
  ],
  "crs": {
    "properties": {
      "name": "urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::28992"
    },
    "type": "name"
  }
}

Shortened response, saved at harvest time. Click the URL for the real, current response.

Read from WMS capabilities: layers dtm_05m, dsm_05m, kaartbladindex · WCS capabilities: coverages, formats, projections · Extent and grid of dtm_05m · ATOM feed with the downloads (map tiles) · ahn.nl data room: all AHN versions with their WMS/WMTS/WCS at Ellipsis Drive. Labels: from the description stated in what the api itself publishes. tested from our own small call. platform applies to every api on this platform, per its documentation. experience learned while building open data index.

How to fetch it

curl "https://service.pdok.nl/rws/ahn/wms/v1_0?service=WMS&version=1.3.0&request=GetFeatureInfo&layers=dtm_05m&query_layers=dtm_05m&styles=&crs=EPSG:28992&bbox=121300,487300,121500,487500&width=200&height=200&i=100&j=100&info_format=application/json"

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