Unique MAP-Mercator cartography museum under construction in Sint-Niklaas
This coming December will see the opening of the new MAP-Mercator cartography museum in Sint-Niklaas, in which the world-famous 16th-century cartographer of the same name will take centre stage. It promises to be a high-tech and multimedia experience on the subject of Belgium's valuable cartographic heritage.
Elsewhere in Focus on Belgium, we already wrote a more concise account regarding the revolution that Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) sparked in cartography and his impact on our daily lives. Each time we're able to consult a map or our GPS, the fact we can do that is thanks, in part, to him.
The MAP-Mercator museum will shine some additional light on Mercator's prominent role in world history. Some 400 maps, atlases, globes and instruments produced by him will be presented in a multimedia display spanning a total of 1,150 square metres. Meanwhile, the Royal Archaeological Circle of the Land of Waas, the geographical region where Sint-Niklaas is located, has mainly finished digitalising its collection of maps. A scenographer and a dramatist who together already have a track record in putting similar innovation projects on the international map, are now working on the story lines so that they can bring everything together in a configuration that will captivate a broad international audience of all ages.
Definitely something to look forward to, even for the non-cartophiles amongst us!