Zeilschip Mercator

About the museum

The Mercator is a barquentine, a three-masted sailing ship that entered service as a training ship in 1932. It was built to a design by Adrien de Gerlache at the Ramage & Ferguson shipyard in Leith near Edinburgh and launched on 8 April 1932. It was intended for the practical training of future merchant navy officers and trained around 1,200 officers. The Mercator belonged to the Belgian state and was operated until 1960 by the Higher Maritime School of Antwerp.

The ship made 41 voyages and visited 54 countries. Well known are the voyages to Easter Island in the 1930s, when two moai were brought to Europe, and the transfer of the remains of Father Damien from Panama to Antwerp in 1936. In 1943 the ship was requisitioned by the British Admiralty and after the war was restored; it sailed as a school ship until 1960, and that year it won the Tall Ships' Races from Oslo to Ostend.

Since then the Mercator has lain in the Ostend marina as a museum ship; from 1964 onwards it has been there almost continuously. The ship was declared a protected monument in 1994 and protected sailing heritage on 16 June 2017. From late September 2015 to late March 2017 it underwent its largest restoration, and since April 2017 it has been owned by the city of Ostend. The interior, including the cabins, has been fully preserved. In 2022 the 90th anniversary was celebrated with an exhibition on board.

Highlights

• Barquentine from 1932 with 15 sails (1,600 m²), 78.40 metres long
• Interior with cabins of the school ship fully preserved
• The story of the voyage to Easter Island with the moai, and of Father Damien
• Protected monument and protected sailing heritage
• Combined ticket with the Icelandic fishing vessel Amandine

Permanent exhibition

• Museumschip Mercator – Tour on board the training ship from 1932, with its preserved interior and an exhibition on 90 years of the Mercator.

Founded

1964

Operated by

Stad Oostende / Toerisme Oostende

Admission & discounts

For an individual visit you do not need to book; preferably pay the admission price by card at the entrance to the ship. Groups and schools must submit a request.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

You need to be able to walk well: to come on board there is a step up to the gangway, and on the ship itself there are steep stairs and narrow passages. Dogs are not admitted, except assistance dogs with a certificate; pushchairs are not admitted either.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

From 14 September to 18 December 2026 De Lijn is working on the tram tracks; visitors who park on the Mercatorlaan can cross at the height of the Kapellebrug or the town hall and walk to the Mercator via the Vindictivelaan.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit