51° North latitude

At seven locations in the Mechelen districts and villages, the city places signs to indicate the 51° N.

The signs, provided with a QR code, indicate through which the only latitude that crosses Flanders runs. You can also call up more geographical information on the spot, such as about the latitude location.

"By indicating the 51° N on our signs, we point out to residents and visitors the uniqueness of the location of Mechelen", says Alderman of Public Works Bart De Nijn. The former teacher also sees opportunities for small school excursions. "Geography teachers can start lessons on coordinates and astrological observations by visiting one of our boards. The signs literally place Mechelen on the geography map, as it were," adds Alderman De Nijn.

The signs indicate with a line where the effective latitude runs. In addition, people can use a QR code on the website of the city of Mechelen to read what the location of the latitude actually means and what it is used for.

"The line of 51° north latitude also flirts with the Mechelen-Zemst border. As a municipality, we are in favour of good cooperation with our neighbouring cities and municipalities. That is something we already have some experience in through the works on the Tervuursesteenweg that we tackled together", says first alderman and alderman of Public Works of Zemst Veerle Geerinckx.

Through Flanders – as through Wallonia: the 50th – there is only one parallel line. The country is crossed by four longitudes. The combination of latitude and longitude is used for geographical position indications. In addition, latitude is also important for astronomical observations. For example, someone who is at the North Pole will see the North Star right above them. Or even: yesterday, September 23, early autumn, the sun was exactly at 51° in the afternoon relative to the zenith in the sky.

Coincidentally, in the coming weeks a section of the VRT programme 'Iedereen beroemd' will be about walking down that 51st parallel, from east to west, from the Meuse to the coast. So reporter Lidewij will also find these signs in her path.

The signs will be placed at the following locations:

• Willendriestraat t.h.v. no. 14
• Leuvensesteenweg t.h.v. no. 697
• Tervuursesteenweg attn. no. 444
• Jubellaan t.h.v. nr.84
• Brusselsesteenweg t.h.v. no. 528
• Zemstbaan attn. no. 130
• Pikkerie (near the border with Zemst)

The QR code leads to the following web page: www.mechelen.be/content/18524

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