Bringing the region's lost heritage to life through an exhibition and off-site experiences

Overview

The Zwin is an arm of the sea that linked Bruges to the North Sea from the 12th century onwards, thus contributing to the city's prosperity. The river gradually silted up, taking with it the towns and villages that had been developed through trade on the river.

With the exhibition The Vanished Zwin, the West Flanders Tourist Office is looking for a narrative thread that tells the story of this forgotten past, both in a museum space and on an outdoor tour that traces the passage of the vanished river.

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Stunning historical re-enactments

Thanks to the latest archaeological research of the University of Ghent, the architecture and life scenes of the Zwin ports are reconstructed to allow a realistic projection into this bygone era. Virtual reality films show these ports, which were among the most important in Europe in the Middle Ages: Bruges, Damme, Monnikerede and Sluis.

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Multi-sensory mediation tools

The objective of the Timescope is to immerse visitors in a journey through time throughout the exhibition. Visitors can dip their hand into a Sand Box to understand the silting up of the river, visualise the evolution of the landscape thanks to a territorial mapping or even walk through immersive rooms.

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Extension of the exhibition outside the walls

Visualising a vanished landscape is all the more powerful in situ , which is why a self-service Timescope route runs along the cycle path of the Zwin Nature Park. Cyclists have access to a 360° view of the medieval Zwin landscape and its vanished ports. An archaeological treasure hunt application in augmented reality adds a playful dimension to this historical dive for young audiences.

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