Realisation

Since Antarctica is a remote continent with the harshest climatic conditions on Earth, construction and logistics were a challenge. This is why as much construction preparation as possible was done in Belgium prior to leaving for Antarctica: The general structure of the station was first assembled during the summer of 2007 at the Tour & Taxis exposition centre in Brussels, where it was also shown to the general public in an exposition that lasted several days.

© René Robert / International Polar Foundation

Tests for the foundations of the building were carried out in a quarry in Quenast and the various components for the technical core were preassembled in the summer and autumn of 2008 in Linkebeek at the Belgian headquarters of Laborelec, a division of GDF Suez, founding partner of the Princess Elisabeth project.

Prior to the station's inauguration on 15 February 2009 in Antarctica, five Belgian Antarctic Research expeditions (BELARE) were carried out in and around Utsteinen Nunatak in the Dronning Maud Land during the austral summer, with the first three years devoted to selecting a site and planning logistics and the last two seasons devoted to building the station. A sixth expedition is currently putting the finishing touches on the integration of the functional systems of the station.