diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 31510c913..a4a7a8366 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ mapnik_option(USE_PROJ "adds proj support" ON)
 mapnik_option(USE_GRID_RENDERER "adds grid renderer" ON)
 mapnik_option(USE_SVG_RENDERER "adds svg renderer" ON)
 mapnik_option(USE_BIGINT "uses 64 bit instead of 32" ON)
+mapnik_option(USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM "use boost::filesytem even if `std::filesystem` is avaible (since c++17)" OFF)
 mapnik_option(USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE "uses file cache" ON)
 mapnik_option(USE_MULTITHREADED "enables the multithreaded features (threadsafe)" ON)
 mapnik_option(USE_NO_ATEXIT "disable atexit" OFF)
@@ -154,7 +155,12 @@ mapnik_find_package(PkgConfig REQUIRED)
 mapnik_find_threads()
 mapnik_find_package(ICU REQUIRED COMPONENTS uc i18n data)
 
-mapnik_find_package(Boost ${BOOST_MIN_VERSION} REQUIRED COMPONENTS filesystem system regex)
+mapnik_find_package(Boost ${BOOST_MIN_VERSION} REQUIRED COMPONENTS regex)
+
+if(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD LESS 17 OR USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+mapnik_find_package(Boost ${BOOST_MIN_VERSION} REQUIRED COMPONENTS filesystem system)
+endif()
+
 list(APPEND MAPNIK_COMPILE_DEFS BOOST_REGEX_HAS_ICU)
 if(USE_BOOST_REGEX_ICU_WORKAROUND)
     message(STATUS "using boost regex workaround")
@@ -257,6 +263,10 @@ if(USE_BIGINT)
     list(APPEND MAPNIK_COMPILE_DEFS BIGINT)
 endif()
 
+if(USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+    list(APPEND MAPNIK_COMPILE_DEFS USE_BOOST_FILESYSYTEM)
+endif()
+
 if(USE_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE)
     list(APPEND MAPNIK_COMPILE_DEFS MAPNIK_MEMORY_MAPPED_FILE)
 endif()
@@ -394,10 +404,16 @@ target_link_libraries(core INTERFACE
     ICU::i18n
     Boost::headers
     Boost::regex
-    Boost::filesystem
     Freetype::Freetype
     ${MAPNIK_OPTIONAL_LIBS}
 )
+
+if(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD LESS 17 OR USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+target_link_libraries(core INTERFACE
+    Boost::filesystem
+)
+endif()
+
 target_compile_definitions(core INTERFACE ${MAPNIK_COMPILE_DEFS})
 
 mapnik_install(core)
diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 9df2c5f9f..0c3f67ce6 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -467,6 +467,7 @@ opts.AddVariables(
     BoolVariable('MAPNIK_RENDER', 'Compile and install a utility to render a map to an image', 'True'),
     BoolVariable('COLOR_PRINT', 'Print build status information in color', 'True'),
     BoolVariable('BIGINT', 'Compile support for 64-bit integers in mapnik::value', 'True'),
+    BoolVariable('USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM','Use boost::filesytem even if `std::filesystem` is avaible (since c++17)', 'False'),
     BoolVariable('QUIET', 'Reduce build verbosity', 'False'),
     )
 
@@ -535,6 +536,7 @@ pickle_store = [# Scons internal variables
         'SQLITE_LINKFLAGS',
         'BOOST_LIB_VERSION_FROM_HEADER',
         'BIGINT',
+        'USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM',
         'HOST',
         'QUERIED_GDAL_DATA',
         'QUERIED_ICU_DATA',
@@ -1631,6 +1633,9 @@ if not preconfigured:
     if env['BIGINT']:
         env.Append(CPPDEFINES = '-DBIGINT')
 
+    if env['USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM']:
+        env.Append(CPPDEFINES = '-DUSE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM')
+
     if env['THREADING'] == 'multi':
         thread_flag = thread_suffix
     else:
@@ -1650,12 +1655,13 @@ if not preconfigured:
 
         # The other required boost headers.
         BOOST_LIBSHEADERS = [
-            ['system', 'boost/system/system_error.hpp', True],
-            ['filesystem', 'boost/filesystem/operations.hpp', True],
             ['regex', 'boost/regex.hpp', True],
             ['program_options', 'boost/program_options.hpp', False]
         ]
 
+        if int(env['CXX_STD']) < 17 or env['USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM']:
+            BOOST_LIBSHEADERS.append(['system', 'boost/system/system_error.hpp', True])
+            BOOST_LIBSHEADERS.append(['filesystem', 'boost/filesystem/operations.hpp', True])
         # if requested, sort LIBPATH and CPPPATH before running CheckLibWithHeader tests
         if env['PRIORITIZE_LINKING']:
             conf.prioritize_paths(silent=True)
diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/build.py b/plugins/input/csv/build.py
index f5e030d88..c71fff747 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/build.py
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ else:
     libraries.append('mapnik-wkt')
 
     if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-        libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
         libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
         libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/gdal/build.py b/plugins/input/gdal/build.py
index 4dc631dde..91f51b0c5 100644
--- a/plugins/input/gdal/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/gdal/build.py
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static':
 libraries = copy(plugin_env['LIBS'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
     libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/geobuf/build.py b/plugins/input/geobuf/build.py
index 45b092423..702512b1e 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geobuf/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/geobuf/build.py
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ plugin_sources = Split(
 # Link Library to Dependencies
 libraries = []
 libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
-libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 libraries.append('mapnik-json')
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
diff --git a/plugins/input/geojson/build.py b/plugins/input/geojson/build.py
index d0f8d2966..3453d6449 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geojson/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/geojson/build.py
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ else:
     libraries.append('mapnik-json')
 
     if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-        libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
         libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
         libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/ogr/build.py b/plugins/input/ogr/build.py
index 1681d0b4d..acf487311 100644
--- a/plugins/input/ogr/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/ogr/build.py
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ libraries = copy(plugin_env['LIBS'])
 plugin_env.Append(CXXFLAGS=cxxflags)
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
     libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/pgraster/build.py b/plugins/input/pgraster/build.py
index 9147d14f9..7936767ee 100644
--- a/plugins/input/pgraster/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/pgraster/build.py
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ else:
 libraries = copy(plugin_env['LIBS'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
     libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/postgis/build.py b/plugins/input/postgis/build.py
index 8a7e891ca..8448a33e3 100644
--- a/plugins/input/postgis/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/postgis/build.py
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ else:
 libraries = copy(plugin_env['LIBS'])
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
     libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/raster/build.py b/plugins/input/raster/build.py
index 2ca3c2e53..52bf9da3f 100644
--- a/plugins/input/raster/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/raster/build.py
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ plugin_sources = Split(
 libraries = []
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
     libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/build.py b/plugins/input/shape/build.py
index 3f397d02e..0ddaef03c 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/build.py
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ plugin_env.Append(CXXFLAGS=cxxflags)
 plugin_env.Append(CPPDEFINES=cppdefines)
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
     libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py b/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py
index 53dfd8b37..b9c4a499a 100644
--- a/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ if env['SQLITE_LINKFLAGS']:
     plugin_env.Append(LINKFLAGS=linkflags)
 
 if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-    libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
     libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
     libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/topojson/build.py b/plugins/input/topojson/build.py
index 6df31a3a6..e9a96b541 100644
--- a/plugins/input/topojson/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/topojson/build.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ else:
     libraries.append('mapnik-json')
 
     if env['PLUGIN_LINKING'] == 'shared':
-        libraries.append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
         libraries.insert(0,env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
         libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 
diff --git a/src/build.py b/src/build.py
index b68d33ef1..aa273ad96 100644
--- a/src/build.py
+++ b/src/build.py
@@ -52,14 +52,20 @@ libmapnik_defines = copy(lib_env['CPPDEFINES'])
 ABI_VERSION = env['ABI_VERSION']
 
 enabled_imaging_libraries = []
+
+
 filesystem = 'boost_filesystem%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-regex = 'boost_regex%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
 system = 'boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
+regex = 'boost_regex%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
+
 
 # clear out and re-set libs for this env
 # note: order matters on linux: see lorder | tsort
-lib_env['LIBS'] = [filesystem,
-                   regex]
+lib_env['LIBS'] = [regex]
+
+if int(env['CXX_STD']) < 17 or env['USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM']:
+    lib_env['LIBS'].append(filesystem)
+    lib_env['LIBS'].append(system)
 
 if env['COVERAGE']:
     lib_env.Append(LINKFLAGS='--coverage')
@@ -95,7 +101,7 @@ if env['XMLPARSER'] == 'libxml2' and env['HAS_LIBXML2']:
 if '-DBOOST_REGEX_HAS_ICU' in env['CPPDEFINES']:
     lib_env['LIBS'].append('icui18n')
 
-lib_env['LIBS'].append(system)
+
 
 lib_env['LIBS'].append('harfbuzz')
 
diff --git a/src/fs.cpp b/src/fs.cpp
index a5da18d40..0d3f72d85 100644
--- a/src/fs.cpp
+++ b/src/fs.cpp
@@ -25,11 +25,18 @@
 #include <mapnik/util/fs.hpp>
 
 #include <mapnik/warning.hpp>
+
+#if __cplusplus >= 201703L && !defined(USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+#include <filesystem>
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+#else
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_PUSH
 #include <mapnik/warning_ignore.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem/operations.hpp> // for absolute, exists, etc
 #include <boost/filesystem/path.hpp>       // for path, operator/
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_POP
+namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#endif
 
 // stl
 #include <stdexcept>
@@ -41,45 +48,45 @@ namespace util {
 bool exists(std::string const& filepath)
 {
 #ifdef _WIN32
-    return boost::filesystem::exists(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
+    return fs::exists(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
 #else
-    return boost::filesystem::exists(filepath);
+    return fs::exists(filepath);
 #endif
 }
 
 bool is_directory(std::string const& filepath)
 {
 #ifdef _WIN32
-    return boost::filesystem::is_directory(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
+    return fs::is_directory(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
 #else
-    return boost::filesystem::is_directory(filepath);
+    return fs::is_directory(filepath);
 #endif
 }
 
 bool is_regular_file(std::string const& filepath)
 {
 #ifdef _WIN32
-    return boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
+    return fs::is_regular_file(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
 #else
-    return boost::filesystem::is_regular_file(filepath);
+    return fs::is_regular_file(filepath);
 #endif
 }
 
 bool remove(std::string const& filepath)
 {
 #ifdef _WIN32
-    return boost::filesystem::remove(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
+    return fs::remove(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
 #else
-    return boost::filesystem::remove(filepath);
+    return fs::remove(filepath);
 #endif
 }
 
 bool is_relative(std::string const& filepath)
 {
 #ifdef _WIN32
-    boost::filesystem::path child_path(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
+    fs::path child_path(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(filepath));
 #else
-    boost::filesystem::path child_path(filepath);
+    fs::path child_path(filepath);
 #endif
     return (!child_path.has_root_directory() && !child_path.has_root_name());
 }
@@ -87,48 +94,48 @@ bool is_relative(std::string const& filepath)
 std::string make_relative(std::string const& filepath, std::string const& base)
 {
 #ifdef _WIN32
-    boost::filesystem::path absolute_path(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(base));
+    fs::path absolute_path(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(base));
 #else
-    boost::filesystem::path absolute_path(base);
+    fs::path absolute_path(base);
 #endif
     // support symlinks
-    if (boost::filesystem::is_symlink(absolute_path))
+    if (fs::is_symlink(absolute_path))
     {
-        absolute_path = boost::filesystem::read_symlink(absolute_path);
+        absolute_path = fs::read_symlink(absolute_path);
     }
-    return boost::filesystem::absolute(absolute_path.parent_path() / filepath).string();
+    return fs::absolute(absolute_path.parent_path() / filepath).string();
 }
 
 std::string make_absolute(std::string const& filepath, std::string const& base)
 {
     // TODO - normalize is now deprecated, use make_preferred?
-    return boost::filesystem::absolute(boost::filesystem::path(base) / filepath).string();
+    return fs::absolute(fs::path(base) / filepath).string();
 }
 
 std::string dirname(std::string const& filepath)
 {
-    boost::filesystem::path bp(filepath);
+    fs::path bp(filepath);
     return bp.parent_path().string();
 }
 
 std::string basename(std::string const& value)
 {
-    boost::filesystem::path bp(value);
+    fs::path bp(value);
     return bp.filename().string();
 }
 
 std::vector<std::string> list_directory(std::string const& dir)
 {
     std::vector<std::string> listing;
-    boost::filesystem::directory_iterator end_itr;
+    fs::directory_iterator end_itr;
 #ifdef _WIN32
     std::wstring wide_dir(mapnik::utf8_to_utf16(dir));
-    for (boost::filesystem::directory_iterator itr(wide_dir); itr != end_itr; ++itr)
+    for (fs::directory_iterator itr(wide_dir); itr != end_itr; ++itr)
     {
         listing.emplace_back(mapnik::utf16_to_utf8(itr->path().wstring()));
     }
 #else
-    for (boost::filesystem::directory_iterator itr(dir); itr != end_itr; ++itr)
+    for (fs::directory_iterator itr(dir); itr != end_itr; ++itr)
     {
         listing.emplace_back(itr->path().string());
     }
diff --git a/test/data b/test/data
index 5206bfd11..90dc594c6 160000
--- a/test/data
+++ b/test/data
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 5206bfd11f122bc8fe81519d39768b30108da03a
+Subproject commit 90dc594c693055eae69aeb66f00685969fc3113c
diff --git a/test/data-visual b/test/data-visual
index 7dd395c33..ac363ee88 160000
--- a/test/data-visual
+++ b/test/data-visual
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 7dd395c33a5cb5ae6b8c33bf9cd81ee296606f88
+Subproject commit ac363ee887d2a55039fd19390c186663d8f0f206
diff --git a/test/standalone/map_xml_test.cpp b/test/standalone/map_xml_test.cpp
index 71c37cc76..73a6f1ef5 100644
--- a/test/standalone/map_xml_test.cpp
+++ b/test/standalone/map_xml_test.cpp
@@ -9,25 +9,46 @@
 #include <mapnik/datasource_cache.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/debug.hpp>
 
+#if __cplusplus >= 201703L && !defined(USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <cstdio>
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+using error_code = std::error_code;
+#else
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+using error_code = boost::system::error_code;
+#endif
+
+#include <boost/format.hpp>
 #include <boost/range/iterator_range_core.hpp>
 
 #include <iostream>
-
-namespace bfs = boost::filesystem;
+#include <random>
 
 namespace {
 
+static std::random_device entropy;
+
+std::string unique_mapnik_name()
+{
+    std::mt19937 gen(entropy());
+    std::uniform_int_distribution<> distrib(0, 65535);
+    auto fmt = boost::format("mapnik-test-%1$04x-%2$04x-%3$04x-%4$04x") % distrib(gen) % distrib(gen) % distrib(gen) %
+               distrib(gen);
+    return fmt.str();
+}
+
 class tmp_dir
 {
   private:
-    bfs::path m_path;
+    fs::path m_path;
 
   public:
     tmp_dir()
-        : m_path(bfs::temp_directory_path() / bfs::unique_path("mapnik-test-%%%%-%%%%-%%%%-%%%%"))
+        : m_path(fs::temp_directory_path() / unique_mapnik_name())
     {
-        bfs::create_directories(m_path);
+        fs::create_directories(m_path);
     }
 
     ~tmp_dir()
@@ -36,21 +57,21 @@ class tmp_dir
         // running, which isn't necessarily an error as far as this
         // code is concerned - it just wants to delete everything
         // underneath the temporary directory.
-        boost::system::error_code err;
+        error_code err;
 
         // catch all errors - we don't want to throw in the destructor
         try
         {
             // but loop while the path exists and the errors are
             // ignorable.
-            while (bfs::exists(m_path))
+            while (fs::exists(m_path))
             {
-                bfs::remove_all(m_path, err);
+                fs::remove_all(m_path, err);
 
                 // for any non-ignorable error, there's not much we can
                 // do from the destructor. it's in /tmp anyway, so it'll
                 // get reclaimed next boot.
-                if (err && (err != boost::system::errc::no_such_file_or_directory))
+                if (err && (err != std::errc::no_such_file_or_directory))
                 {
                     break;
                 }
@@ -68,22 +89,22 @@ class tmp_dir
         }
     }
 
-    bfs::path path() const { return m_path; }
+    fs::path path() const { return m_path; }
 };
 
-void compare_map(bfs::path xml)
+void compare_map(fs::path xml)
 {
     tmp_dir dir;
     mapnik::Map m(256, 256);
     REQUIRE(m.register_fonts("fonts", true));
-    bfs::path abs_base = xml.parent_path();
+    fs::path abs_base = xml.parent_path();
 
     // first, load the XML into a map object and save it. this
     // is a normalisation step to ensure that the file is in
     // whatever the current version of mapnik uses as the
     // standard indentation, quote style, etc...
     REQUIRE_NOTHROW(mapnik::load_map(m, xml.generic_string(), false, abs_base.generic_string()));
-    bfs::path test_map1 = dir.path() / "mapnik-temp-map1.xml";
+    fs::path test_map1 = dir.path() / "mapnik-temp-map1.xml";
     REQUIRE_NOTHROW(mapnik::save_map(m, test_map1.generic_string()));
 
     // create a new map, load the one saved in the previous
@@ -91,23 +112,23 @@ void compare_map(bfs::path xml)
     mapnik::Map new_map(256, 256);
     REQUIRE(new_map.register_fonts("fonts", true));
     REQUIRE_NOTHROW(mapnik::load_map(new_map, test_map1.generic_string(), false, abs_base.generic_string()));
-    bfs::path test_map2 = dir.path() / "mapnik-temp-map2.xml";
+    fs::path test_map2 = dir.path() / "mapnik-temp-map2.xml";
     REQUIRE_NOTHROW(mapnik::save_map(new_map, test_map2.generic_string()));
 
     // if all the information survived the load/save round-trip
     // then the two files ought to be identical.
-    REQUIRE(bfs::is_regular_file(test_map1));
-    REQUIRE(bfs::is_regular_file(test_map2));
-    REQUIRE(bfs::file_size(test_map1) == bfs::file_size(test_map2));
+    REQUIRE(fs::is_regular_file(test_map1));
+    REQUIRE(fs::is_regular_file(test_map2));
+    REQUIRE(fs::file_size(test_map1) == fs::file_size(test_map2));
     std::ifstream in_map1(test_map1.native()), in_map2(test_map2.native());
     REQUIRE(std::equal(std::istream_iterator<char>(in_map1),
                        std::istream_iterator<char>(),
                        std::istream_iterator<char>(in_map2)));
 }
 
-void add_xml_files(bfs::path dir, std::vector<bfs::path>& xml_files)
+void add_xml_files(fs::path dir, std::vector<fs::path>& xml_files)
 {
-    for (auto const& entry : boost::make_iterator_range(bfs::directory_iterator(dir), bfs::directory_iterator()))
+    for (auto const& entry : boost::make_iterator_range(fs::directory_iterator(dir), fs::directory_iterator()))
     {
         auto path = entry.path();
         if (path.extension().generic_string() == ".xml")
@@ -117,7 +138,7 @@ void add_xml_files(bfs::path dir, std::vector<bfs::path>& xml_files)
     }
 }
 
-void load_map(mapnik::Map& m, bfs::path const& path)
+void load_map(mapnik::Map& m, fs::path const& path)
 {
     try
     {
@@ -140,7 +161,7 @@ void load_map(mapnik::Map& m, bfs::path const& path)
 } // anonymous namespace
 #ifndef MAPNIK_STATIC_PLUGINS
 const bool registered =
-  mapnik::datasource_cache::instance().register_datasources((bfs::path("plugins") / "input").generic_string());
+  mapnik::datasource_cache::instance().register_datasources((fs::path("plugins") / "input").generic_string());
 #endif
 TEST_CASE("map xml I/O")
 {
@@ -156,8 +177,8 @@ TEST_CASE("map xml I/O")
 
     SECTION("good maps")
     {
-        std::vector<bfs::path> good_maps;
-        add_xml_files(bfs::path("test") / "data" / "good_maps", good_maps);
+        std::vector<fs::path> good_maps;
+        add_xml_files(fs::path("test") / "data" / "good_maps", good_maps);
 
         for (auto const& path : good_maps)
         {
@@ -176,7 +197,7 @@ TEST_CASE("map xml I/O")
     SECTION("duplicate styles only throw in strict mode")
     {
         std::string duplicate_stylename(
-          (bfs::path("test") / "data" / "broken_maps" / "duplicate_stylename.xml").generic_string());
+          (fs::path("test") / "data" / "broken_maps" / "duplicate_stylename.xml").generic_string());
         CAPTURE(duplicate_stylename);
         mapnik::Map m(256, 256);
         REQUIRE(m.register_fonts("fonts", true));
@@ -188,9 +209,9 @@ TEST_CASE("map xml I/O")
 
     SECTION("broken maps")
     {
-        std::vector<bfs::path> broken_maps;
-        add_xml_files(bfs::path("test") / "data" / "broken_maps", broken_maps);
-        broken_maps.emplace_back(bfs::path("test") / "data" / "broken_maps" / "does_not_exist.xml");
+        std::vector<fs::path> broken_maps;
+        add_xml_files(fs::path("test") / "data" / "broken_maps", broken_maps);
+        broken_maps.emplace_back(fs::path("test") / "data" / "broken_maps" / "does_not_exist.xml");
 
         for (auto const& path : broken_maps)
         {
diff --git a/test/unit/data/test.xml b/test/unit/data/test.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1a45e4d34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/data/test.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<svg opacity="1">
+  <g opacity="1">
+    <g opacity="1">
+      <attribute index="0">
+        <gradient x1="0" y1="0.25" x2="0.1" y2="0.1" r="0.75">
+          <stop offset="0" color="rgba(0,0,0,0.0)"/>
+          <stop offset="0.5" color="rgb(0,0,139)"/>
+          <stop offset="1" color="rgba(0,0,0,0.0)"/>
+        </gradient>
+        <gradient x1="0" y1="0" x2="0" y2="0" r="0">
+        </gradient>
+        <opacity>1</opacity>
+        <fill>rgb(0,0,0)</fill>
+        <fill-opacity>1</fill-opacity>
+        <stroke>rgb(0,0,0)</stroke>
+        <stroke-width>0.5</stroke-width>
+        <stroke-opacity>1</stroke-opacity>
+      </attribute>
+    </g>
+  </g>
+</svg>
diff --git a/test/unit/imaging/image_io_test.cpp b/test/unit/imaging/image_io_test.cpp
index 3beaf1264..45d98c754 100644
--- a/test/unit/imaging/image_io_test.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/imaging/image_io_test.cpp
@@ -13,17 +13,28 @@
 #endif
 
 #include <mapnik/warning.hpp>
+
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_PUSH
 #include <mapnik/warning_ignore.hpp>
 #include <boost/format.hpp>
-#include <boost/filesystem/convenience.hpp>
 #include <boost/optional/optional_io.hpp>
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_POP
+
+#if __cplusplus >= 201703L && !defined(USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+#include <filesystem>
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+#else
+MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_PUSH
+#include <boost/filesystem/convenience.hpp>
+MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_POP
+namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#endif
+
 #include <mapnik/util/mapped_memory_file.hpp>
 
 inline void make_directory(std::string const& dir)
 {
-    boost::filesystem::create_directories(dir);
+    fs::create_directories(dir);
 }
 
 namespace {
diff --git a/test/unit/renderer/cairo_io.cpp b/test/unit/renderer/cairo_io.cpp
index 4f95f0d49..1b1725039 100644
--- a/test/unit/renderer/cairo_io.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/renderer/cairo_io.cpp
@@ -4,10 +4,16 @@
 #include <mapnik/util/fs.hpp>
 
 #include <mapnik/warning.hpp>
+#if __cplusplus >= 201703L && !defined(USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+#include <filesystem>
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+#else
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_PUSH
 #include <mapnik/warning_ignore.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem/convenience.hpp>
 MAPNIK_DISABLE_WARNING_POP
+namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#endif
 
 #include <fstream>
 
@@ -22,7 +28,7 @@ TEST_CASE("cairo_io")
     SECTION("save_to_cairo_file - SVG")
     {
         std::string directory_name("/tmp/mapnik-tests/");
-        boost::filesystem::create_directories(directory_name);
+        fs::create_directories(directory_name);
         REQUIRE(mapnik::util::exists(directory_name));
 
         std::string output_file(directory_name + "test_save_to_cairo_file.svg");
diff --git a/test/unit/run.cpp b/test/unit/run.cpp
index 94836d7ed..993e247fd 100644
--- a/test/unit/run.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/run.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,13 @@
 #include <mapnik/mapnik.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/fs.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/datasource_cache.hpp>
+#if __cplusplus >= 201703L && !defined(USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+#include <filesystem>
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+#else
 #include <boost/filesystem/convenience.hpp>
+namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#endif
 
 #include "cleanup.hpp" // run_cleanup()
 
@@ -43,7 +49,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
             std::clog << "Could not find " << working_dir << "\n";
             return -1;
         }
-        boost::filesystem::current_path(working_dir);
+        fs::current_path(working_dir);
     }
 
     if (result == 0)
diff --git a/test/visual/CMakeLists.txt b/test/visual/CMakeLists.txt
index 0c0c306fc..05917ba50 100644
--- a/test/visual/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/visual/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,11 +7,17 @@ add_executable(mapnik-test-visual
 target_link_libraries(mapnik-test-visual PRIVATE
     Catch2::Catch2
     Boost::program_options
-    Boost::filesystem
     mapnik::mapnik
     mapnik::agg
     ICU::data ICU::i18n ICU::uc # needed for the static build (TODO: why isn't this correctly propagated from mapnik::mapnik?)
 )
+
+if(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD LESS 17 OR USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+target_link_libraries(mapnik-test-visual PRIVATE
+    Boost::filesystem
+)
+endif()
+
 # needed for cleanup.hpp
 target_include_directories(mapnik-test-visual PRIVATE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/..")
 
diff --git a/test/visual/config.hpp b/test/visual/config.hpp
index 16d6931cf..bbfd16cff 100644
--- a/test/visual/config.hpp
+++ b/test/visual/config.hpp
@@ -29,8 +29,14 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <chrono>
 
+#if __cplusplus >= 201703L && !defined(USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+#include <filesystem>
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+#else
 // boost
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#endif
 
 #include <mapnik/geometry/box2d.hpp>
 
@@ -76,8 +82,8 @@ struct result
     map_size size;
     map_size tiles;
     double scale_factor;
-    boost::filesystem::path actual_image_path;
-    boost::filesystem::path reference_image_path;
+    fs::path actual_image_path;
+    fs::path reference_image_path;
     std::string error_message;
     unsigned diff;
     std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::duration duration;
diff --git a/test/visual/renderer.hpp b/test/visual/renderer.hpp
index f446fe794..bdfe5c3be 100644
--- a/test/visual/renderer.hpp
+++ b/test/visual/renderer.hpp
@@ -57,8 +57,14 @@
 #include <mapnik/svg/output/svg_renderer.hpp>
 #endif
 
+#if __cplusplus >= 201703L && !defined(USE_BOOST_FILESYSTEM)
+#include <filesystem>
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+#else
 // boost
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
+#endif
 
 namespace visual_tests {
 
@@ -70,7 +76,7 @@ struct raster_renderer_base
     static constexpr const char* ext = ".png";
     static constexpr const bool support_tiles = true;
 
-    unsigned compare(image_type const& actual, boost::filesystem::path const& reference) const
+    unsigned compare(image_type const& actual, fs::path const& reference) const
     {
         std::unique_ptr<mapnik::image_reader> reader(mapnik::get_image_reader(reference.string(), "png"));
         if (!reader.get())
@@ -84,7 +90,7 @@ struct raster_renderer_base
         return mapnik::compare(actual, reference_image, 0, true);
     }
 
-    void save(image_type const& image, boost::filesystem::path const& path) const
+    void save(image_type const& image, fs::path const& path) const
     {
         mapnik::save_to_file(image, path.string(), "png32");
     }
@@ -96,7 +102,7 @@ struct vector_renderer_base
 
     static constexpr const bool support_tiles = false;
 
-    unsigned compare(image_type const& actual, boost::filesystem::path const& reference) const
+    unsigned compare(image_type const& actual, fs::path const& reference) const
     {
         std::ifstream stream(reference.string().c_str(), std::ios_base::in | std::ios_base::binary);
         if (!stream)
@@ -107,7 +113,7 @@ struct vector_renderer_base
         return std::max(actual.size(), expected.size()) - std::min(actual.size(), expected.size());
     }
 
-    void save(image_type const& image, boost::filesystem::path const& path) const
+    void save(image_type const& image, fs::path const& path) const
     {
         std::ofstream file(path.string().c_str(), std::ios::out | std::ios::trunc | std::ios::binary);
         if (!file)
@@ -302,7 +308,7 @@ class renderer
     using renderer_type = Renderer;
     using image_type = typename Renderer::image_type;
 
-    renderer(boost::filesystem::path const& _output_dir, boost::filesystem::path const& _reference_dir, bool _overwrite)
+    renderer(fs::path const& _output_dir, fs::path const& _reference_dir, bool _overwrite)
         : ren()
         , output_dir(_output_dir)
         , reference_dir(_reference_dir)
@@ -340,8 +346,8 @@ class renderer
                   map_size const& tiles,
                   double scale_factor) const
     {
-        boost::filesystem::path reference = reference_dir / image_file_name(name, size, tiles, scale_factor, true);
-        bool reference_exists = boost::filesystem::exists(reference);
+        fs::path reference = reference_dir / image_file_name(name, size, tiles, scale_factor, true);
+        bool reference_exists = fs::exists(reference);
         result res;
 
         res.state = reference_exists ? STATE_OK : STATE_OVERWRITE;
@@ -355,8 +361,8 @@ class renderer
 
         if (res.diff)
         {
-            boost::filesystem::create_directories(output_dir);
-            boost::filesystem::path path = output_dir / image_file_name(name, size, tiles, scale_factor, false);
+            fs::create_directories(output_dir);
+            fs::path path = output_dir / image_file_name(name, size, tiles, scale_factor, false);
             res.actual_image_path = path;
             res.state = STATE_FAIL;
             ren.save(image, path);
@@ -394,8 +400,8 @@ class renderer
     }
 
     const Renderer ren;
-    const boost::filesystem::path output_dir;
-    const boost::filesystem::path reference_dir;
+    const fs::path output_dir;
+    const fs::path reference_dir;
     const bool overwrite;
 };
 
diff --git a/test/visual/report.cpp b/test/visual/report.cpp
index cb46e2e34..1de87b6da 100644
--- a/test/visual/report.cpp
+++ b/test/visual/report.cpp
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ void console_short_report::report(result const& r)
     }
 }
 
-void html_report::report(result const& r, boost::filesystem::path const& output_dir)
+void html_report::report(result const& r, fs::path const& output_dir)
 {
     if (r.state == STATE_ERROR)
     {
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ void html_report::report(result const& r, boost::filesystem::path const& output_
     }
     else if (r.state == STATE_FAIL)
     {
-        using namespace boost::filesystem;
+        using namespace fs;
 
         path reference = output_dir / r.reference_image_path.filename();
         path actual = output_dir / r.actual_image_path.filename();
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ constexpr const char* html_footer = R"template(</div>
 </body>
 </html>)template";
 
-void html_report::summary(result_list const& results, boost::filesystem::path const& output_dir)
+void html_report::summary(result_list const& results, fs::path const& output_dir)
 {
     s << html_header;
 
@@ -253,11 +253,11 @@ void html_report::summary(result_list const& results, boost::filesystem::path co
     s << html_footer;
 }
 
-void html_summary(result_list const& results, boost::filesystem::path output_dir)
+void html_summary(result_list const& results, fs::path output_dir)
 {
-    boost::filesystem::path html_root = output_dir / "visual-test-results";
-    boost::filesystem::create_directories(html_root);
-    boost::filesystem::path html_report_path = html_root / "index.html";
+    fs::path html_root = output_dir / "visual-test-results";
+    fs::create_directories(html_root);
+    fs::path html_report_path = html_root / "index.html";
     std::clog << "View failure report at " << html_report_path << "\n";
     std::ofstream output_file(html_report_path.string());
     html_report report(output_file);
diff --git a/test/visual/report.hpp b/test/visual/report.hpp
index a496a0056..6e0ac5479 100644
--- a/test/visual/report.hpp
+++ b/test/visual/report.hpp
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ class html_report
         : s(_s)
     {}
 
-    void report(result const& r, boost::filesystem::path const& output_dir);
-    void summary(result_list const& results, boost::filesystem::path const& output_dir);
+    void report(result const& r, fs::path const& output_dir);
+    void summary(result_list const& results, fs::path const& output_dir);
 
   protected:
     std::ostream& s;
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class summary_visitor
     result_list const& result_;
 };
 
-void html_summary(result_list const& results, boost::filesystem::path output_dir);
+void html_summary(result_list const& results, fs::path output_dir);
 
 } // namespace visual_tests
 
diff --git a/test/visual/run.cpp b/test/visual/run.cpp
index a352f2c34..f74d7db23 100644
--- a/test/visual/run.cpp
+++ b/test/visual/run.cpp
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ using namespace visual_tests;
 namespace po = boost::program_options;
 
 runner::renderer_container
-  create_renderers(po::variables_map const& args, boost::filesystem::path const& output_dir, bool force_append = false)
+  create_renderers(po::variables_map const& args, fs::path const& output_dir, bool force_append = false)
 {
-    boost::filesystem::path reference_dir(args["images-dir"].as<std::string>());
+    fs::path reference_dir(args["images-dir"].as<std::string>());
     bool overwrite = args.count("overwrite");
     runner::renderer_container renderers;
 
@@ -185,11 +185,11 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
     mapnik::freetype_engine::register_fonts(vm["fonts"].as<std::string>(), true);
     mapnik::datasource_cache::instance().register_datasources(vm["plugins"].as<std::string>());
 
-    boost::filesystem::path output_dir(vm["output-dir"].as<std::string>());
+    fs::path output_dir(vm["output-dir"].as<std::string>());
 
     if (vm.count("unique-subdir"))
     {
-        output_dir /= boost::filesystem::unique_path();
+        output_dir /= std::tmpnam(nullptr);
     }
 
     config defaults;
diff --git a/test/visual/runner.cpp b/test/visual/runner.cpp
index d538e4522..9eac5e9f8 100644
--- a/test/visual/runner.cpp
+++ b/test/visual/runner.cpp
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ runner::runner(runner::path_type const& styles_dir,
 
 result_list runner::test_all(report_type& report) const
 {
-    boost::filesystem::directory_iterator begin(styles_dir_);
-    boost::filesystem::directory_iterator end;
+    fs::directory_iterator begin(styles_dir_);
+    fs::directory_iterator end;
     std::vector<runner::path_type> files(begin, end);
     return test_parallel(files, report, jobs_);
 }
diff --git a/test/visual/runner.hpp b/test/visual/runner.hpp
index e33de2c94..d806b97b6 100644
--- a/test/visual/runner.hpp
+++ b/test/visual/runner.hpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace visual_tests {
 
 class runner
 {
-    using path_type = boost::filesystem::path;
+    using path_type = fs::path;
     using files_iterator = std::vector<path_type>::const_iterator;
 
   public:
diff --git a/utils/mapnik-index/build.py b/utils/mapnik-index/build.py
index 9bddaf196..c08a3cc43 100644
--- a/utils/mapnik-index/build.py
+++ b/utils/mapnik-index/build.py
@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@ source = Split(
 headers = env['CPPPATH']
 
 boost_program_options = 'boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-boost_system = 'boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-libraries =  [env['MAPNIK_NAME'], boost_program_options, boost_system]
+libraries =  [env['MAPNIK_NAME'], boost_program_options]
 # need on linux: https://github.com/mapnik/mapnik/issues/3145
 libraries.append('mapnik-json')
 libraries.append('mapnik-wkt')
diff --git a/utils/ogrindex/build.py b/utils/ogrindex/build.py
index 68a4c0452..4142f3152 100644
--- a/utils/ogrindex/build.py
+++ b/utils/ogrindex/build.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ program_env['LIBS'] = [env['PLUGINS']['ogr']['lib']]
 # Link Library to Dependencies
 program_env['LIBS'].append(env['MAPNIK_NAME'])
 program_env['LIBS'].append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
-program_env['LIBS'].append('boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 program_env['LIBS'].append('boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND'])
 
 if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static':
diff --git a/utils/pgsql2sqlite/build.py b/utils/pgsql2sqlite/build.py
index cc0674b24..265933899 100644
--- a/utils/pgsql2sqlite/build.py
+++ b/utils/pgsql2sqlite/build.py
@@ -65,9 +65,6 @@ libraries.extend([boost_program_options,'sqlite3',env['MAPNIK_NAME'],'icuuc'])
 
 if env.get('BOOST_LIB_VERSION_FROM_HEADER'):
     boost_version_from_header = int(env['BOOST_LIB_VERSION_FROM_HEADER'].split('_')[1])
-    if boost_version_from_header >= 50:
-        boost_system = 'boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-        libraries.extend([boost_system])
 
 if env['SQLITE_LINKFLAGS']:
     program_env.Append(LINKFLAGS=env['SQLITE_LINKFLAGS'])
diff --git a/utils/shapeindex/build.py b/utils/shapeindex/build.py
index 2a4c2ab07..dbd178a03 100644
--- a/utils/shapeindex/build.py
+++ b/utils/shapeindex/build.py
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ source = Split(
 headers = ['#plugins/input/shape'] + env['CPPPATH']
 
 boost_program_options = 'boost_program_options%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-boost_system = 'boost_system%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
-libraries =  [env['MAPNIK_NAME'], boost_program_options, boost_system]
+libraries =  [env['MAPNIK_NAME'], boost_program_options]
 libraries.append(env['ICU_LIB_NAME'])
 if env['RUNTIME_LINK'] == 'static':
     libraries.extend(copy(env['LIBMAPNIK_LIBS']))