Discover St. John's Church in Mechelen
Visitors with a smartphone or tablet can now explore St. John's Church in an interactive way. A handy app provides them with information about the works of art during their visit. This makes St. John's Church the first church in Flanders to use the ErfgoedApp.
Volunteers from Torens aan de Dijle (Towers on the Dijle) provide a warm welcome in Mechelen's historic churches and offer explanations where necessary. Visitors can use information cards during their tour of the church, which indicate the most important works of art.
More background information
Torens aan de Dijle wants to provide interested visitors with even more background information and is therefore focusing on digital technology to better highlight the beautiful heritage of the historic churches. The non-profit organization makes good use of the existing ErfgoedApp by FARO.
Part of St. John's Church has recently reopened to visitors. Torens aan de Dijle has seized this opportunity to highlight ErfgoedApp via the ErfgoedApp . This makes St. John's Church the first church in Flanders to be made accessible in this way.
"The interactive display adds a new dimension to the visit. The church council provided Wi-Fi in the church. Visitors can download the ErfgoedApp . By scanning a work of art, they can access background information. This allows images, original letters, and text fragments to provide more context," says Greet Geypen, alderwoman for Monument Conservation and chair of Torens aan de Dijle.
360° image
“Thanks to a scan with the camera eye of your smartphone or tablet, something is added to reality on your screen. For example, if you scan the slideshow of the murals from around 1400, you will find yourself virtually in the west tower. This allows you to view the murals up close. We can do this thanks to a 360° image," says coordinator Sarah Luyten.
Visitors do not have to follow a set route, but can choose which artworks they want to scan. Nine artworks are being highlighted today. Torens aan de Dijle now wants to see how visitors respond and gather feedback.
Future plans
Torens aan de Dijle wants ErfgoedApp the entire St. John's Church ErfgoedApp via the ErfgoedApp . In time, visitors will be able to explore the entire church interactively. Currently, the information is only available in Dutch. In the future, it will also be available in French, English, and German. In this way, the non-profit organization aims to reach as many tourists as possible.
"Following a positive evaluation, Torens aan de Dijle also wants to make the other historic churches accessible in this way. Of course, we will continue to focus on traditional information channels. The ErfgoedApp an extra addition," says Greet Geypen.
ErfgoedApp
Visitors to St. John's Church who ErfgoedApp the ErfgoedApp can also use this application in other places.
St. John's Church is open every day from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on Wednesdays.