On the morning of May 17, 2013, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium arrived in Mechelen to inaugurate Technopolis’s newest expanded area known as, Xplora and Inspirience.

According to the official website for Technopolis and RTL:

“Technopolisis the Flemish Science Centre for science and technology. The mission of Technopolisis to bring science and technology closer to people. Technopolis wants to go further than increasing public awareness or insight into science and technology. It wants to engage people in science and technology. That’s why the motto of Technopolisis ‘I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.’

Technopolis operates by the principle of the Trojan horse. Science, as science, is not always attractive to people; they sometimes have an aversion to it because they think it is too difficult. In response to this attitude, Technopolis often presents science in an attractive package or associated with an attractive element, ranging from an exciting story that stimulates youngsters to carry out experiments in a science vehicle, to more well-known ways of presenting the material, such as a calendar full of interesting scientific facts and tests.

New at Technopolis is the ‘Xplora’ area is designed for children aged 8 to 14 years, they will have to use their imagination. The ‘Inspirience’ area is designed for young people aged 14 to 18 years to test their creativity.”

During today’s inauguration, the royal couple played games, met with staff and generally had a fantastic time.  Yay!   🙂

For more information about Technopolis please visit their official website here.