How it all began

The foundations of MAP - Museums at the Park were laid in 1861, with the establishment of The Society of Antiquaries of the Land van Waas (KOKW). This society aimed to preserve, research and share the heritage of Sint-Niklaas and the Waasland region with the public. Out of this enthusiasm grew a diverse collection: from archaeological finds and art to documents from local archives. The figure of Gerard Mercator also found a place within it, but always as part of a much broader story about the region and its history. 

A growing collection 

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the city's collection expanded considerably thanks to generous donors, passionate collectors and an active city council. 
This led to the creation of three museum sites in the city centre, each with its own character: 

• Zamanstraat - the historic heart of the museum, home to the KOKW collections, including the map collection. 

• Zwijgershoek - a former factory site that developed into a place for graphic art, archaeology, crafts and industrial heritage. 

• De Salons - a stately townhouse where the city's art collection was displayed. 
  Together, these three locations formed a varied yet rich museum network that kept on growing. 

From a diverse museum network to MAP - Museums At the Park 

The 2020s marked a new chapter: the various museums were brought together under one new name, MAP - Museums At the Park. Four historic sites in and around the Mercator Park - Mercator, Curiosum, Den Brei and Paviljoen - are now connected with one another.