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Ghent?!
Ghent is a historic city, yet at the same time a contemporary one. The modern daily life of the city’s active inhabitants plays itself out against a gorgeous historical backdrop. In Ghent, they live, work and enjoy life over and over again each day.
A couple enjoys the peace of an authentic beguinage. Parents and children stroll through the traffic-free streets of the city centre. A tourist snaps a photo of the three towers, as so many have before, but just a little differently. A businessman with an iPhone walks along the distinctive Graslei, crosses the Lys and enters his stylish four-star hotel hiding behind a medieval facade. Dozens of pavement cafes invite you to discover Ghent’s specialities. The sun is reflected in the many waterways. The city is alive and bids you welcome.
Who are the inhabitants of Ghent, or ‘Gentenaars’?
There is no single typical inhabitant of Ghent, of course. However, adjectives such as headstrong and proud would certainly apply. And, more particularly, progressive and open-minded.
This stubbornness grew historically. Just read this brief history of the city. Their pride is justified. Over time Ghent has been transformed into an attractive and lively city. And the inhabitants of Ghent prove their progressiveness and open-mindedness every day. This makes for a colourful city scene, a rich (multi-)cultural appeal and a swinging nightlife.
GENTENAAR, NOOSE-WEARER.
Infuriated by their centuries of obstinacy, and determined to finally force the inhabitants of Ghent into submission, in 1540 Charles V returned to the city of his birth with an army of 5000 soldiers. Ghent was found guilty of disobedience, treason, rebellion and lese-majesty. She was deprived of all her privileges, the bell Klokke Roelandt, symbol of the city’s independence, was taken from the Belfry and Ghent was degraded to a second-rate provincial town.
A few days later came the ultimate humiliation: on 3rd May 1540 a procession of leading citizens wound through the streets of Ghent from the Town Hall to the Prinsenhof with nooses around their necks. There they were made to kneel and beg aloud for mercy from the Emperor and his sister, Mary of Hungary. From this day forward, the citizen of Ghent has been nicknamed the ‘noose-wearer’.
Top sights
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Ghent IlluminatedAs soon as night falls, the lights go back on... |
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The Adoration of the Mystic LambHistorical centre / Torens-site The Van Eyck brothers painted this unique altarpiece in 1432. It is the highlight of the Flemish Primitives and a milestone in art history. |
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St Bavo’s CathedralHistorical centre / Torens-site A trove of art treasures: 22 altars (!), a Rococo pulpit in marble and oak and of course the exquisite highlight: ‘The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ by the Van Eyck brothers. |
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St Michael’s BridgeHistorical centre / Graslei-site Nowhere else can you see so many marvellous buildings in one glance as from St Michael’s Bridge. The monumental bridge can itself be better admired from the Graslei. |
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Castle of the CountsHistorical centre / Gravensteen-site An imposing stronghold in the heart of the city. Follow the digital tour or simply close your eyes and imagine yourself as a knight or noblewoman. |
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The BelfryHistorical centre / Torens-site Above the Ghent skyline towers the Old Belfry, lonely and grey, an iconic symbol of the past. The dragon above searches the horizon, the Klokke Roeland warns the citizenry of approaching enemies. Recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. |
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Graslei and KorenleiHistorical centre / Graslei-site Ask ten inhabitants of Ghent what the most beautiful place in their city is and nine will answer the Graslei. |
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PatersholHistorical centre / Gravensteen-site Authentic medieval district in the shadow of the Castle of the Counts. Today the Patershol is the place to be for those who appreciate fine food and drink.
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Museums
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Museum of Fine ArtsKunstenkwartier / Citadelpark-site The strength and the charm of the MSK is the variety of its collection and the way it is presented: never before have... |
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Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art (S.M.A.K.)Kunstenkwartier / Citadelpark-site Dynamic and highly individual. That’s Ghent and it also describes its museum of contemporary art. |
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St Peter’s Abbey Arts CentreKunstenkwartier / St-Pietersplein-site The refectory wing of St Peter’s Abbey is authentically medieval. The splendid... |
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Design museum GentHistorical centre / Graslei-site Behind a charming 18th-century façade lurks a modern, airy building. The central... |
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Museum of Industrial Archaeology and Textiles [MIAT]Historical centre / Vrijdagmarkt-site In the Middle Ages, Ghent cloth was known far beyond the national borders. |
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The House of AlijnHistorical centre / Gravensteen-site When you enter the splendid indoor garden of this former place of worship, it seems as if you have left the city. Inside... |
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Dr. Guislain MuseumHistorical centre / Gravensteen-site A museum in Belgium’s oldest psychiatric hospital, built in 1857: you’d be ‘crazy’ not to... |
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The world of Kina: the HouseKunstenkwartier / St-Pietersplein-site A unique fossil of a pre-historic reptile, a splendid diorama room with native birds and a replica model of Ghent as it was 450 years ago... |
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The World of Kina: the GardenHistorical centre / Gravensteen-site More than 1000 plant species, a bee colony and live tarantulas in the Garden... |
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The School of YesteryearHistorical centre / Graslei-site Back to the old school benches? The School of Yesteryear is housed in a typical school building from 1901. |
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City Museum GhentThe STAM, the Museum of the City of Ghent, will rise on the site of the Bijloke Complex. |
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Museum Arnold Vander HaeghenThe interiors of the Museum Arnold Vander Haeghen appeal enormously to the imagination. The most attractive .. |
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Museum for the History of SciencesKunstenkwartier / Citadelpark-site Nothing can halt the advance of science, and it is continually evolving. This is wonderfully illustrated... |
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IlluseumThe Illuseum confounds you with tricks of the eye and optical illusions. Just don’t believe your eyes! |
Sightseeing
Is this your first visit to the city? Then let a guide show you the ropes. On foot, by boat or in a carriage.
You can also explore Ghent from the air, but a balloon or helicopter ride requires advance booking.
Rather go it alone? Why not? Go on foot, by bicycle or even by boat.
Shops and Markets
Ghent has big chain stores next to authentic boutiques, trendy shops next to traditional ones. They are located at walking distance in the largest pedestrian shopping precinct of Flanders.
Going out
Not only in the daytime there is so much to do, it’s well worth going out into town in the evening and at night too. The atmosphere of Ghent’s nightlife profits from the superb and sophisticated lighting of the buildings and monuments in the city centre. Michelin even gave Ghent three stars for its lighting.
Ghent is not only a feast for the eyes, but indulges all the other senses too. From your spot at a pavement cafe you’ll hear the pleasant bustle of the active city centre and the finest aromas waft out to greet you from the many restaurants. Do you think you can resist the temptation?
The publications ‘Weekup’ and ‘Zone 09’ are crammed full of tips for a successful evening out in Ghent. These are free and can be picked up in cafés, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, information points, etc.
Be sure to consult our website at www.gratisingent.be/ (available in Dutch) to find out what is hot and what is not!
For the young, the best bet is to take a look at the website run by Use-it www.use-it.be/en/page/14/ghent/ or for everyone feeling young at heart.
www.weekup.be/ (only available in Dutch)
www.zone09.be/ (only available in Dutch)
www.gratisingent.be/ (available in Dutch)
www.use-it.be/en/page/14/ghent/
Sports and Leisure
Ghent is also the place to empty your mind and let your body take over.
When the weather’s fine, the beach at the Blaarmeersen sports and recreation park is the place to be. Apart from a large lake for swimming, surfing, diving and waterskiing, there is also an athletics track, a roller-skating track, a skate park, mini-golf course, football pitches, squash and tennis courts and the only 5-star camping site in the Ghent area. Indoor swimming is also an option in one of the city’s three covered swimming pools.
In the borough of Drongen, you will find a genuine golf school. Not far to go for top-level sport either: Ghent has its own top sports arena (with an adjoining hotel)! There are another 8 municipal sports centres for a wide range of sports. Those who would rather scream their lungs out can spend an evening supporting the KAA Gent football team or the Optima Gent basketball team.