Ancient Greek and Roman navigators laid the foundations of maritime exploration with their pioneering use of stars, winds, and early maps for Mediterranean voyages.

Pioneers of the medieval seas through the Middle Ages, with the Arabs introducing astrolabes and detailed charts, while Vikings, using sunstones and stars in their iconic longships.

The Age of Discovery was propelled by Portuguese and Spanish expeditions, which discovered new lands and sea routes, dramatically expanding European worldviews and maritime capabilities in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Danish astronomer Thyco Brahe, but also Southern Netherlands scientists like Gemma Frisius, Gerard Mercator, Petrus Plancius en Michiel Coignet were important during this renaissance period.

The Dutch Golden Age marked a period of extensive maritime exploration and trade dominance, driven by the innovative ship designs and navigational skills of the 17th century.

The 1714 Act of Longitude incentivized the creation of reliable methods for determining longitude at sea, revolutionizing navigation and making sea voyages safer and more precise.

Britain's mastery over the waves in the 18th and 19th centuries was marked by naval dominance, global exploration, and the advancement of navigational technology.

The 18th century saw explorers pushing the boundaries of the known world, charting the Pacific, the Americas, and the Arctic with improved navigational tools and techniques.

Belgian explorers ventured into uncharted territories, notably Antarctica, driven by scientific curiosity and equipped with the era's cutting-edge navigational and survival gear.

Belgian explorers ventured into uncharted territories, notably Antarctica, driven by scientific curiosity and equipped with the era's cutting-edge navigational and survival gear.