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Belgian Antarctic Expedition concludes as Belgica returns to Antwerp

When
1899
Where
Antwerp harbor
Episodes
1

The Belgian Antarctic Expedition concluded on 5 November 1899 when RV Belgica returned to Antwerp. Led by Adrien de Gerlache, this multinational crew completed the first wintering in Antarctic waters. The return was celebrated in Antwerp, where the city honored the expedition members with medals and entries in the Golden Book.

Episodes

  1. 5 November 1899 · Antwerp harborReturn to Antwerp

    RV Belgica arrived in Antwerp harbor on 5 November 1899, concluding the first Antarctic wintering expedition.

Background and detail

Expedition Context. The Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897–1899 was the first to winter in the Antarctic region. Led by Adrien de Gerlache aboard RV Belgica, it featured a multinational crew including Roald Amundsen and Frederick Cook. The vessel departed Antwerp in August 1897, supported by state subsidies, marking the start of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Return to Antwerp. After being trapped in ice for over a year, Belgica began moving through cleared channels in February 1899. The expedition returned to Antwerp on 5 November 1899. The city welcomed the crew heartily, honoring them with medals and recording their names in the Golden Book. The Belgian state also awarded them membership in the Royal Order of Leopold.

People involved

Sources

  1. Belgian Antarctic Expedition Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
  2. Adrien de Gerlache Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-31

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.