'De Steenschuit Association'
is a partner in the European Inter-regional North Sea "Heroes 2c"-project
along with the 'Association Tourville' (Gravelines, Dunkirk, France)
and the 'Medway Queen Preservation Society' (Rochester, Kent, UK)
We build a sea-worthy replica of the iconic Belgica, the vessel which carried the first international, scientific Antarctic expedition under command of the Belgian Adrien de Gerlache (1897-99). The first expedition which spent a winter season in Antarctic ice.
New Belgica project: background
Reviving Belgium's most important maritime heritage: The New Belgica
In August 1897, a Belgian navy captain Adrien de Gerlache left Antwerp for the Antarctic with an international crew on a robust three-master, the Belgica. The expedition was the first Antarctic expedition of a purely scientific nature. It was also the first to spend a winter in the austral polar night, and to make extensive use of photography.
On 10 March 1898, and for twelve months, the Belgica was imprisoned in the ice. The ice-bound ship drifted over 3200 kilometers and was finally released on 14 March 1899 after much effort.
The expedition returned with an important scientific harvest and a complete annual cycle of observations, which are still relevant for scientific comparisons today.
The scientific data covered many fields: bathymetrical and hydrological soundings, numerous botanical and zoological samples, a large amount of oceanographical, meteorological, geomagnetic, glaciological and geological observation data.