Discover the hidden gem: the Scheldt estuary, a natural area connecting Flanders and the Netherlands!
(Be)Leefbare Schelde (Liveable Scheldt) aims to secure UNESCO Geopark status for the region. The goal is to shift tourist pressure from the coast towards the inland area and to expand the range of tourist attractions in the region. Sustainability and the involvement of residents and stakeholders are central to the development of the tourism offer. The project involves the renovation and development of tourist 'Pearls' and 'Gateways' (including the Grenspark Groot Saeftinghe cross-border nature reserve), the development of slow travel connecting routes, and an integrated strategy for connecting and opening up the area. Key to this connection is the further development of the '7 storylines for the Geopark' about the area's past, present and future, such as 'Salt and fresh water', 'Climate through the ages' and 'Living with water'.
The City of Sint-Niklaas, represented by MAP - Mercator, is taking part in this project as a 'Gateway'. These gateways introduce visitors to the story of the wider Delta and actively direct them to other locations within the project area.
In 2025, a fully renewed and modernised Mercator museum will open its doors under the name MAP - Mercator. As the only cartography museum in Belgium, we forge a unique link between heritage and technology (in the form of cutting-edge, data-driven digital applications), built largely around the figure of Mercator. Sustainability and ecology are becoming important themes for the museum. Through accessible tools, MAP - Mercator can make a valuable contribution to more reliable future scenarios for the region, such as flooding and climate change. In addition, the museum can play a prominent role in historical and scientific research into the characteristics of the Scheldt Delta. The development of the Scheldt Delta — spatially, culturally, historically, politically and religiously — can, after all, be traced visually through the study of historical and current maps.
Two applications are already in production:
A digital model of the Scheldt Delta, highlighting its role as a gateway to the wider Waasland region
A game about climate change
More information and results from our project partners can be found here.
