Development of Typic Haplorthods in a heathland area in Denmark responded over a short period of time (decades) to changes of vegetation. Part of the heath, Hjelm Hede, was left undisturbed and was invaded by trees, mainly oak and a few aspen and conifers. Another part of the heath was planted with Norway and Sitka spruce 60–70 yr ago. The soils under heath, oak and spruce were studied. Major differences were found, some visible in the field and others detectable in the laboratory. Under oak, relative to heath, horizon boundaries were less distinct, pH increased in the top horizons, organic carbon and C/N ratio decreased, and iron and aluminum contents in the upper B horizons decreased. Compared with the original heath podzol, the soil under spruce had a lower pH in the O, E and upper B horizons, higher organic carbon content and C/N ratio in the top horizons, increased cementation, and a placic horizon. However the pyrophosphate-extractable iron and aluminum content was significantly lower than in any of the other soils. The soil under oak showed "depodzolization" features, whereas the soil under spruce was increasingly podzolized, though the podzolization mechanism might be different from that under heath. Analyses of phenolic compounds in the soil water were consistent with these conclusions. The three main components of substituted benzoic acids were gallic acid, protocatechuic acid and coumaric acid, which are all strongly complexing agents believed to take part in the podzolization process. Generally, the highest concentrations were found under spruce and the lowest under oak.Key words: Vegetation-induced soil changes, Spodosols, phenolic compounds