Why Ghent?
Lonely Planet has called our city
“Europe’s best kept secret” and a must see
destination for 2011
Because
Mirror in the Lys river
From the bridge you can also see the unique row of
houses mirrored in the Lys, on both sides of the river.
With the Castle of the Counts in the distance.
Noah Charney, art historian
Greetings from Ghent!
National Geographic Traveler
Magazine has listed this city as the most
authentic historic city in the world and full of
life
Because
Five photos? In our day and age, with digital photography? Patershol; the new City Museum, STAM; the
interior garden at the House of Alijn; the Cloud Measurer at S.M.A.K., Ghent’s Municipal Museum of Con-
Because
you must witness with your own
eyes what Napoleon and the mysterious
thief of The Just Judges panel already
knew: The Mystic Lamb really is key to
European art history
Because
“The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is
without a doubt world’s most besieged
and coveted work of art. In Paris it
would easily knock the Mona Lisa off
the throne”
temporary Art; the Sunday flower market… They’re all
worth a shot… or two!
the city comes to life again after
sunset
And
of course because you like to get off the
beaten track!
…that’s why!
Tourist Office
Inquiry desk
Sint-Veerleplein 5 – 9000 Gent.
T. +32 9 266 56 60
www.visitgent.be.
Ghent in
five photos
Only stopping by for a
short visit? Then make
sure you see these
highlights (and capture
them on camera!).
“Smack in the middle of Brussels,
Bruges and Antwerp, Ghent distils their
greatest attributes into one engaging
and enchanting city”
Lonely Planet
Through the eyes of the Count
From the keep of the Castle of the Counts the city lies at
your feet. Experience the Counts of Flanders’ sense of
power.
Publisher: Lieven Decaluwe, alderman for Culture, Tourism and Festivities.
Stadhuis, Botermarkt 1, 9000 Gent.
Lay-OUT: Thirtythree
text: conception
Small Town,
Big City
Ghent is a cosy, well organised city with countless tourist
attractions within walking distance from one another.
1,000 years of history have left their mark.
Whatever you see during the day is even more magical at
night thanks to the ingenious lighting plan. The city loves
light – the annual Light Festival in January is proof of that.
That’s when the city is at its best – light and bright!
Follow visitgent on:
In a different light
After sunset Ghent takes on a new dimension. Its
pretigious and award-winning lighting plan creates a
magical, shimmering sight!
Medieval Manhattan
Only from or just next to St Michael’s Bridge can you
see the three towers that formed our medieval skyline
in a nice straight line.
You hear music all over the place in this UNESCO City of
Music. Dozens of events and festivals turn every visit into
a unique experience. The highlight? The ten-day Ghent
Festivities!
Flemings love good food and drink, and there’s ample proof
of that in Ghent. Patershol, a medieval neighbourhood with
a great atmosphere, is the city’s culinary hotspot.
A pedestrianized shopping area covers a large part of the
city centre. Below it there are large underground car parks,
but most hotels have their own parking facilities.
Work up your appetite on the water! You’ve watched them pass
by all morning, now it’s your turn to hop on a boat! After all,
that’s the best way to see Ghent from a different perspective.
The captain will give you a taste of history laced with juicy little
anecdotes, in a language of your choice.
Friday, 5 p.m. | Grab a beer
Saturday 2.30 p.m. | The art of choosing
Find yourself a spot along the Graslei and enjoy the impressive row of medieval houses (on both sides of the river)
and the cosy atmosphere. This is where the people of Ghent
grab a beer. Start with a Gruut, the only beer that is brewed
here in the city using traditional methods.
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is the absolute masterpiece of medieval art. Grand with overwhelming detail. This altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers is an absolute must-see, but there’s
plenty more: Flemish (and other) masters at the Museum of Fine
Arts , modern art at the Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art (S.M.A.K.) and an interactive overview of Ghent’s history and its people at the new City Museum (STAM).
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and Ghent takes half an hour and costs about ten euros.
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From Amsterdam, London, Paris and Cologne you can be in
Flanders – the northern part of Belgium – in less than two
hours. Ghent lies right in the midst of the other top tourist
destinations in Belgium. In a nutshell, it is the perfect base
for visiting the region!
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More information?
Go to www.visitgent.be.
Or contact the tourist office at the
number +32 9 266 56 60.
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6 p.m. | Rock ’n’ roll cuisine
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FlemN
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ish Foodies, threeRadventurous
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Soup is the new fast food! Plenty of choice, always tasty and
of course healthy! The Souplounge near Vrijdagmarkt
offers delicious soups with a view of the Lys. And a free apple, because an apple a day…
S T R AA
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Ghent’s oldest building is the Castle of the Counts , the
impressive medieval fortress in the city centre. Go back in
time and shiver at the sight of armour, weapons and torture
instruments.
Saturday 12.30 p.m. | Easy as duck soup
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Taste and buy typical products from Ghent and East Flanders under the impressive vaults of the Great Butchers
Hall . RoomeR is the ideal aperitif. If you have a sweet
tooth, buy cuberdons. For a spicier touch try Tierenteyn
mustard on the other side of the square.
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that at the flea market near St James’ Church . At Bar
Dépot you can buy anything, even a yummy breakfast!
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Browsing vinyl records, snapping up a second-hand
jacket
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T
R OZE M A
or scoring the perfect souvenir? Early birds can doR IpreciselyR I J N ST R A AT
Saturday, 10 a.m. | Castle of the Counts
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Saturday, 8 a.m. onwards | Early risers’ opportunities
Saturday, 11.30 a.m. | Ghent delicacies
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Lonely planet
G E VA N G E N I S
Friday night at Vrijdagmarkt ? Good idea! Start off with
PIJ
LST
R AA
T
a Kwak at beer bar De Dulle Griet. You’ll have to leave
W IN
TER
T U IN
ST R
your shoe in a hanging basket as a deposit for the amazing
glass. A stone’s throw away you’ll enjoy the hustle and busE K K E R till
tle of the Vlasmarkt, with its rock music and DJs playing
G E M S T R A AT
early morning.
N
“Ghent is Europe’s
D UI ZE ND
best
secret”
EN
V URkept
DELING
N I E U W E WA N
EKKERGEMKERK
JA
H.V.WIT TENB
Lights out, spots on! Hidden gems during the day are suddenly put in the spotlight at dusk. To enjoy Ghent by night
to the full try the Ghent Illuminated walk. Get your map at
the Ghent Tourist Office or download it from
BA
NEUSE
VO GE L Z hidden gems in Gthe
E U Z Eside
at the Veldstraat
! Or discover
AN
NBERG
TR
PAR K G
SS
R
streets, typical Aproducts
at the Koestraat, Bennesteeg, Jan
A
EN
OL
Breydelstraat
and Serpentstraat. Bag a bargain from 1 to 31 A N
M
LA
GE
RS
TST
January
and from 1 to 31 July!
IS
RA
U
T
FR
OFLAAN
EST
BEROUW
R A B OT
Sundays in Ghent start at the flower market with a coffee, a chat and a walk along the colourful stalls. To top it off:
oysters and champagne at the blue kiosk, while discussing
what to do next.
G
T
AA
EN
I S TShop
EË
OPG
Sunday, 10 a.m. | Flower power
J.
LAA
Friday, 9 p.m. | Enlightening
KOOLK APPE RSTRAAT
ANTV
A few more
hours (and euros)V Oto
G E spend?
LZAN
N
© Phile Deprez
www.visitgent.be
BLAIS
Saturday, 4.30 p.m. |
JOZ E F VAN C R OMBR
UG G H E STR
What used to be a poor man’s dinner is now a speciality.
Gentse Waterzooi with chicken, fish or even vegetarian –
after all, Ghent is the Veggie Capital of Europe! At Bij den
Wijzen en den Zot at Patershol a culinary jury tasted the
best waterzooi made from a traditional recipe.
Time for a nightcap. At Dreupelkot you can choose from
over 200 (!) types of ‘jenever’. Vanilla jenever has conquered
the world, though the chicory version isn’t likely to. The adventurous leave through the back entrance to discover the narrowest street in Ghent. Want to bet you won’t feel like heading
home or to your hotel?
TO
Friday, 7 p.m. | Poor man’s dinner
Saturday, 10 p.m. | Take a shot
EST
A weekend in Ghent
Friday, 11 p.m. | The night is still young
Its chef now cooks at J.E.F. Trendy Volta is housed in a
former warehouse and De Vitrine offers top cuisine in an
old butchery.
Saturday, 1 p.m. | Don’t miss the boat
DAM
Ghent: more than a
one night stay!