The original anchor belonging to Belgium’s first polar exploration vessel, the Belgica, is getting a new home in Ostend. The anchor of the vessel in which Belgian polar explorer Adrien de Gerlache charted a course towards the South Pole in the legendary Belgica expedition of 1897-1899 will be given pride of place on Ostend’s East Bank, the eastern bank of the port channel.
Anchor of polar explorer Adrien de Gerlache’s Belgica to go on show in Ostend
Colin Clapson
Published:
Explorer Adrien de Gerlache left Antwerp on board the first Belgica in 1897. He planned to map uncharted territories around the South Pole. His trip turned into an incredible adventure. The ship got stuck in the ice and the crew had to spend the terribly hard polar winter at the South Pole. But eventually the Belgica made it back home.
After its travels, the ship ended up in a fjord in Harstad, in Troms province, northern Norway, the home of the University of the Antactic. There the Belgica was scuttled when the Franco-British Expeditionary Force deployed to Norway evacuated the town in 1940 during World War II. The wreck of the Belgica was only discovered on Easter, 1990.
Local divers salvaged the anchor and donated it to the Belgica Society that gifted it to the Flanders Maritime Institute (VLIZ) in 2024. On 19 March, Carl Decaluwé, governor of West Flanders province, will officially unveil the anchor at the VLIZ 's Marine Station Ostend, on the Slipway Quay.
The Belgica has strong ties to the West Flemish port city. On the outward voyage to the South Pole, the Belgica spent some considerable time in Ostend after leaving Antwerp. Before setting off De Gerlache first had to solve some problems, including finalising his crew.