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Museum · Ostende, Flandres Ocidental
Mercator
Three-masted sailing ship built in Scotland in 1932 to train the Belgian merchant navy. It is moored in the centre of Ostende, in front of the town hall, and can be visited from the deck to the cabins.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Mercator
Mercator is a three-masted sailing ship launched in 1932 by the Ramage & Ferguson shipyard in Leith, Scotland. The Belgian polar explorer Adrien de Gerlache was involved in the project. The name honors Gerardus Mercator, the 16th-century Flemish cartographer who created the map projection still used today.
The ship served as a school for future officers of the Belgian merchant marine and made 41 voyages. In 1934 it carried a Franco-Belgian scientific expedition to Easter Island, which brought back statues from the island. In 1936 it transported from Molokai in Hawaii the remains of Father Damião, the Belgian missionary who cared for people with leprosy.
In 1961 the sailing ship became a museum ship in Antuérpia and, since 1964, has been in Ostende, moored in the dock in front of the town hall at Jan Piersplein. It has been a protected heritage site of Flanders since 1996.
On board, visitors tour the deck, the wheelhouse, the officers' cabins and the cadets' quarters. Objects, photos and mementos from the voyages tell the routine of those who spent months at sea learning the trade.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
45 minutes to an hour to tour the deck and cabins.
Best time
From April to October the ship is open Tuesday to Sunday; from November to March it usually opens only on weekends and during Belgian school holidays. It is closed on Mondays. Confirm before you go.
How to get there
It's located in the centre of Ostende, on the dock in front of the town hall, about a 10-minute walk from Oostende station and near the church of São Pedro e São Paulo. Those coming from Bruges by train arrive in less than half an hour.
Tip
The internal stairs are narrow and steep, as on any sailing ship: wear low-heeled shoes. Combine the visit with the church of São Pedro e São Paulo, a few minutes away, and then head to the promenade.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Mercator
Does the Mercator still sail?
No. Since 1961 it has been a museum ship and, since 1964, it has been moored in Ostende, in front of the town hall.
What is the Mercator's connection to Father Damião?
In 1936 the ship brought the mortal remains of Father Damião from Molokai, in Hawaii; he was a Belgian missionary who worked with people suffering from leprosy.
Is the ship open in winter?
From November to March, opening is usually limited to weekends and Belgian school holidays. Confirm before you go.