About

About
Wie zijn we?

De fantastische wereld van schelpen is nagenoeg oneindig in variatie van vorm en kleur. Het is de op één na grootste groep qua biodiversiteit op deze planeet – na de insecten.

Het gaat hier ook niet enkel over zeeschelpen, trouwens. Ook landslakken en schelpen uit rivieren en andere wateren hebben hun charmes voor velen.

De ene verzamelaar heeft al meer interesse in esthetische aspecten, terwijl de andere een bepaald gebied of een bepaalde familie van nader wil bekijken. Sommigen houden het op schelp-gerelateerde objecten (postzegels, sigarenbandjes, postkaarten, beeldjes, …), en anderen dragen dan weer – op een wetenschappelijke manier – bij tot de kennis van biodiversiteit van schelpen in België of zelfs in de wereld. Ook historische, etnische of andere gebruiksvoorwerpen – etnische kunst, bij voorbeeld – gemaakt van of met schelpen behoren tot de interesses van sommige leden.

De vereniging groepeert mensen die mollusken (schelpen) en fossielen verzamelen en bestuderen, en telt zo’n 210 leden uit binnen- en buitenland.

Als club verwelkomen we iedereen die met schelpen bezig wil zijn – wat ook de insteek is. Wat is er nu leuker dan om op regelmatige basis met gelijkgestemden een goeie “schelpenbabbel” te hebben?

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Where social contact is valued

Monthly meetings

We meet monthly on the second Sunday of the month, at Sint Anneke Centrum, Hanegraefstraat 5, 2050 Antwerp. This is not compulsory for members, and you are also welcome without being a member. It’s always nice to be able to talk about your passion with like-minded people, isn’t it?

Around 50 members usually attend these monthly meetings. Can’t make it? No problem! You can always find the “Announcements” and the presentation from that day in the members’ area of our website, in the folders provided for this purpose.

You can arrive from 9:00 a.m., and at 10:15 a.m. sharp we start with the announcements and the activity for that morning. In addition, there are always a few sellers present, so you can expand your collection with lots of beautiful items.

In addition to buying or exchanging shells or books, or borrowing books from our library – or simply chatting about shells with friends in the cafeteria – we organise an activity every month.

At 10:15 a.m. sharp, there are always announcements, followed by the activity. This can range from a lecture or presentation on a particular group of shells, to a workshop on a particular family, to a travelogue.

PS: During the holiday period, there is no monthly meeting in July, but there is one in August. You can always find all the dates and locations in the events section of this website.

Every 2nd Sunday of the month

Doors: 09:00
Start: 10:15

Sint Anneke Centrum

Hanegraefstraat 5
2050 Antwerpen

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Our history

How it all started with a shell

Once upon a time … or how it all started with a few shell-lovers who gathered one day …
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1961

Constitution

On October 8, 1961, the society GLORIA MARIS was founded in the pub “Den Engel”, located on the “Grote Markt” in Antwerp, Belgium. Gloria Maris refers to the name of the – back then – very rare seashell “Conus gloriamaris” (= glory of the sea).

1974

Name Change

On 9 May 1974, the society was transformed to a non-profit organisation, and the general assembly of 4 January 1976 decided to re-name the society towards “Belgian Society for Conchology, np”.

2011

Birthday + acknowledged as Royal

In 2011, the society celebrated its 50th birthday, and as such acquired the title of “Royal Society”.

Sience

The association has a number of professionals from home and abroad in its ranks, who can often provide valuable advice. After years of study, some members reach a semi-professional level where they make valuable scientific contributions to the study of molluscs. Newly discovered shell species are regularly described. A number of shells have even been named after some members. The publications resulting from this study work are widely acclaimed at home and abroad through our magazine ‘Gloria Maris’. The association maintains close contacts with, and has built up cooperation over the years with, universities, natural science institutions, museums and other associations in Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. In addition, there are also good contacts with a number of professional and semi-professional conchologists ( = shell collectors) in countries outside Europe.

And furthermore...

Finally, there are several working groups active. The most active one focuses on the land and freshwater molluscs of Belgium. Further information about these working groups can be found on a separate page dedicated to them.