The landscape of Central Europe has been subject to intensive changes since the beginning of the industrial revolution. The extent, the spatio-temporal structure, the causes, and the effects of this change were investigated for a 1730 km2 case study area situated in the country triangle between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The study is based on land cover data for 6 relevant stages of the industrial development, beginning from the pre-industrial stage around 1800 up to the post-industrial stage around 2000. The data were obtained from 14 meso-scale historical map series, 3 modern topographic databases, and remote sensing data. These heterogeneous information were integrated in a spatially and temporally consistent geographical information system. Various other spatial and non-spatial data, which map the biophysical, socio-economic and structural basic conditions of the land cover changes, were also integrated across the national borders. All data were analysed with GIS and geostatistical methods. The results show, that more than 50% of the area under investigation experienced at least one change of land cover since the beginning of the 19th century. Main processes were the conversion of arable land to grassland or forest and the expansion of built-up areas. The causes of these changes are complex: the driving factors differ between places, times and processes. On a large scale view the present land cover adapts better to the natural potentials than at any other time during the last 200 years. According to common empirical models and evaluation procedures this development is accompanied by generally lower erosion rates and an improved discharge buffering capacity of the landscape. On a more detailled level, however, there is evidence for contrary developments. These may lead to high risks for the inventory of the natural and cultural domain in the future.