The stamp of Mercator
How the Waasland leaves its mark on the world
Do you remember Gerardus Mercator? This phenomenal cartographer created a totally new world map which continues to set the tone today, among other things in shipping. A simple boy from Rupelmonde, with a grandiose impact on the world
Mercator Museum: the man, his work, his maps
The Mercator Museum in Sint-Niklaas outlines the life and talent of Mercator. Not to be missed: the rare earth globe from 1541, the beautiful sky globe from 1551 and the rich collection of atlases-be sure to check out the very first Ptolemy edition from 1584! Give the digital experience of this unique museum a try as well. Dream away and learn by means of projections, virtual tours, exciting documentaries, sparkling constellations and life-size touch screens.
De Graventoren: the most notorious castle of the Waasland
Admittedly, the Graventoren is not the leaning the Tower of Pisa, and slanderers sometimes call it an old windbag. But jump in anyway. Why? Because you like structures with history, of course. Throughout the years, the tower has served as a castle, a repository and a military entrenchment, before eventually becoming a tourist attraction. Mercator also learned about the tower. When he shared his insights with his contemporaries, he was quickly labelled a heretic. A danger to the church order. The result: he was thrown by force of arms into the dungeon of the Graventoren. Worth a look, right?
Let the sun guide you, with the sundials of Rupelmonde
In the Year 1994, Mercator's native village of Rupelmonde installed numerous sundials, scattered throughout the entire area. Dozens of facades throughout the village pay tribute to the greatest resident of all time. Marvel at more than 30 cleverly designed sundials, check them all out during a relaxing walk and crown yourself king of the country's sundial village.
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