In the framework of the MAREBASSE project (‘‘Management, Research and Budgeting of Aggregates in Shelf Seas related to End-users’’, EV/02/18, Van Lancker et al. 2005) and the MESH project (“Mapping European Seabed Habitats, Interreg IIIb; www.searchmesh.net), biologically relevant habitat maps are produced, based on multibeam acoustic datasets, ground truthed with physical and biological samples. The habitat map production comprised of the following four key steps: (1) getting the best out of the ground truth data; (2) selecting and deriving the best available input and most appropriate data coverages; (3) using the most appropriate techniques for interpreting the data through integration and modelling, and; (4) designing the map layout to create a map fit for purpose. Results are presented where classes derived from acoustic seabed classification are translated into habitat maps. Cross tabulation is used to correlate biological ground truthing data with the acoustic classes. Finally, habitat maps are produced, representing the likely occurrences of the different macrobenthic communities occurring on the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS). For the study areas of Oostende, Hinder Banken, Sierra Ventana, habitat maps of macrobenthic communities have been created. The habitat maps are based on a cross tabulation of acoustic backscatter classification of the multibeam images, overlaid with biological samples worked out on a macrobenthic community level.