The BELISSIMA (Belgian Ice Sheet – Shelf Ice Measurements in Antarctica) project focuses on the investigation of the stability of the ice sheet in coastal Dronning Maud Land (DML), East Antarctica, since the last deglaciation. Little is known on how the ice sheet is currently reacting to changes in the environment. Evidence from West Antarctica shows that interaction of the ocean with the ice sheet plays a determining role in the observed thinning, glacier acceleration and grounding-line retreat of the continental ice sheet. Increased melting under the ice shelf leads to decreased buttressing (the ice shelf loses contact with pinning points which slow down the flow), leading to an increased outflow and a positive contribution to sea-level rise.