In June 2024, a new exhibition about the Antarctic and the adventurous voyage of the Belgica will open at the MAS. This ship left Antwerp around 125 years ago on an expedition to the South Pole. Little did the crew know that they would be the first to spend the winter in the polar ice. The MAS tells the story of their perilous journey led by the Belgian Adrien de Gerlache. He and his crew have gone down in history as pioneers. At the same time, this exhibition also takes a look at this beautiful region, where global warming is very much in evidence today.
Adventure
125 years ago, the famous research ship Belgica sets sail from Antwerp in bright sunshine. The expedition sets course for the sixth continent, Antarctica. The world maps of the time are almost completely filled in, but Antarctica is still uncharted territory. The international but very young crew, led by Adrien de Gerlache, will be the first to spend an unplanned winter in Antarctica. When the polar winter sets in, the ship gets stuck in the pack ice. More than a year later, after a very dark, cold and long winter with periods of illness, they manage to free the ship from the ice. Using large saws, spatial awareness and perseverance, they free the Belgica. Shortly before the start of a second polar winter, they miraculously set off on their return journey. Almost the entire international crew survived the expedition.
Museum aan de Stroom Antwerp: To the Antarctic © Museum aan de Stroom
The exhibition
The MAS has some unique historical pieces in its collection, such as the ship's steering wheel and crow's nest, sledges and clothing, the ice saws used to free the ship from the ice and the beautiful barrel organ on which the crew played the 'Brabanconne' for hours in the cabin during the dark days. Together with the many beautiful photos and the crew's diaries, the adventurous voyage is brought back to life 125 years later in the town from which it sailed.
June 21 to November 3, 2024
