Statue of Gerard Mercator

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Statue of Gerard Mercator

3.5

#439 of 634 things to do in Brussels

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The area

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How to get there

Naamsepoort • 5 min walk
Louiza • 6 min walk

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

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macedonboy

Glasgow, UK179,496 contributions

Gerard Mercator and Mercator projection

Oct 2019

This monument stands in tribute to Gerardus Mercator, a 16th century Flemish geographer, cosmographer and cartographer. As a pioneer of cartography, he also gave his name to the Mercator projection, the standard map projection for maps and especially for marine navigation.

This monument is a life-size stone sculpture of Mercator. He is depicted dressed in the typical manner of a 16th century Flemish gentleman. In his right hand is a sphere representing the globe and a surveying compasses in left.

The monument is located in Jardin de Petit Sablon amongst many monuments to other notable Belgians. While the monument is not a must-see per se, the collection of monument plus the park makes it a worthwhile visit.

Written October 31, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Trainbleu

Brussels, Belgium28,718 contributions

Famous cartographer

Jan 2023

The statue of Flemish cartographer Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) is one of ten Carrara marble statues standing in a half-circle in ivy-clad niches at the back of the Egmont and Hornes Fountain in the Jardin du Petit Sablon. The statues, representing illustrious 16th-century scientists, politicians or artists, are listed separately on Tripadvisor. They were all designed by painter Xavier Mellery but crafted by different sculptors. Mercator is the work of Louis Pierre Van Biesbroeck (1839 – 1919), who also made some of the bronze statuettes lining the garden.

Like in the famous 16th century engraved portrait by Franz Hogenberg Mercator is represented as a dignified, elderly man with a long beard. He is holding dividers in this left hand and is looking at the globe he is holding in his right hand. The statue in itself may not be a great work of art but the ensemble is lovely.

Written February 4, 2023

BradJill

Hong Kong, China159,119 contributions

Gerard Mercator Statue at Jardin du Petite Sablon

Nov 2022

There are 48 statues found at the Jardin du Petite Sablon including ten important humanists and distinguished Belgians that are placed in a semi-circle around the fountain monument to the Counts Egmont and Hornes. These include as described on the monument map at the southern entrance to the park:

2) William of Orange-Nassau (1533-1584)
3) Louis Van Bodeghem (1470-1540)
4) Henri de Brederode (1531-1568)
5) Corneille De Vriendt (1518-1573)
6) Rombaud Dodoens (1518-1585)
7) Gerard Mercator (1512-1594)
8) Jean de Locquenghien (1514-1574)
9) Bernard Van Orley (1495-1542)
10) Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598)
11) Philippe de Marnix de Sainte-Aldegonde (1538-98)

Statue (7) is of the notable Flemish geographer, cosmographer and cartographer Gerard Mercator, the last monument on the left side of the Egmont and Hornes fountain when you are facing the monuments. It was created by sculptor Louis Van Biesbroeck and depicts Mercator who is nicely dressed and holding a globe in his right hand and a surveying instrument in his left. It is a neat statue that nice to see as part of the collection of contemporaries found within Jardin du Petite Sablon.