The Belgica’s flag, known as a pennant, has been officially included in the list of movable cultural heritage of the Flemish Community, according to a decree published on Wednesday in the Belgian Official Gazette.
The sailboat is known for having been the ship with which Adrien de Gerlache took for a South Pole expedition at the end of the nineteenth century.
The pennant, measuring approximately 92 centimetres high and 160 centimetres wide, was displayed at the top of the Belgica’s mast during the Antarctic expedition.
The red and white pennant bears the letters Y and C, referring to the Royal Yacht Club Belgium in Antwerp.
The Belgica, a converted Norwegian seal hunting ship, set sail on 16 August 1897 under the command of Belgian naval officer Adrien de Gerlache from Antwerp to Antarctica.
At that time, the region was the last uncharted territory on the world map. Ultimately, the crew became the first to overwinter unexpectedly in the Antarctic. The ship returned to Antwerp on 5 November 1899.
"The pennant illustrates, as a testament to the voyage of discovery, the significant contribution of the expedition to science and the renown of Belgium in Antarctic research," stated Flemish Minister of Culture Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) in the decree. "Consequently, the item holds special value for the collective memory."
After the voyage, De Gerlache donated the pennant to the Royal Yacht Club Belgium. It still hangs in their clubhouse in Antwerp.