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    Gent

    Belgium

    Gent

    City

    Ghent, East Flanders' vibrant university city, lies a half-hour train ride west of Brussels. People come for the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece, a medieval count's castle, and the gabled houses on Graslei and Korenlei.

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    Ghent, East Flanders' vibrant university city, lies a half-hour train ride west of Brussels. People come for the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece, a medieval count's castle, and the gabled houses on Graslei and Korenlei.The old town lies at the confluence of the Scheldt and Lys. Around St. Bavo's Cathedral, the Belfry, and the quays, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings stand close together. Tens of thousands of students ensure the city doesn't feel like an open-air museum at night.
    Ghent has around 270,000 inhabitants, making it one of Flanders' largest cities, with over 40,000 of them studying at Ghent University. Since the 2017 traffic plan, the city center has been largely car-free, with pedestrians and cyclists having priority, and Trams 1 and 3 connect Gent-Sint-Pieters station with the city center. Particularly striking is the blend of great art history and everyday life: The Ghent Altarpiece hangs just a few steps from student pubs. Worthwhile are the area between Korenmarkt, Graslei, and Gravensteen, the Vrijdagmarkt with its cafés, as well as the museum quarter around Citadelpark with MSK and S.M.A.K.

    Sights in Gent

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Church

    1St. Bavo's Cathedral

    The Gothic Cathedral was completed in 1559. In the paid visitor center hangs the Ghent Altarpiece by the van Eyck brothers, complemented by an Augmented Reality tour of its history; until spring 2027, the seven upper panels are replaced by photos due to restoration. The church interior itself is freely accessible and houses a Rubens painting as well as a Romanesque crypt.
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    Castle

    2Gravensteen

    Count Philip of Alsace had the moated castle built in 1180, according to the inscription above the gate. Admission includes a tablet with video fragments and a humorous audio tour by comedian Wouter Deprez; the visit is free for under 13s and with the CityCard Gent.
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    Attraction

    3Belfry of Ghent

    The 95-meter-tall 14th-century belfry is topped by a golden dragon and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Belfries of Belgium and France. Since the cathedral tower can only be climbed during the Gentse Feesten, you have the best city views from here.
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    Historic Landmark

    4Graslei and Korenlei

    The two quays at the old harbor on the Leie are lined with guild and gable houses. From the Sint-Michielsbrug, you see the towers of the Old Town lined up in a row.
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    Museum

    5STAM City Museum Gent

    The City Museum chronicles Ghent's development with multimedia stations and a large walk-on aerial photo. It's an ideal introduction before exploring the Old Town.
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    Museum

    6Museum of Fine Arts (MSK)

    The Art Museum at Citadel Park features works by Hieronymus Bosch, Rubens and other Flemish masters. Tuesdays to Fridays, here you can watch the restorers of the Ghent Altarpiece working on the upper panels.
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    Restaurants in Gent

    1

    Vrijmoed

    Creative cuisine at a top level in Vlaanderenstraat, awarded two stars by the Guide Michelin.
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    2

    Clients

    Modern cuisine with a Michelin star at Ham, known for seasonal menus in a casual setting.
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    3

    Le Baan Thaï

    Thai cuisine at affordable prices in the Old Town, awarded the Bib Gourmand in the Guide Michelin.
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    Ghent's Specialties

    Gentse Waterzooi

    Creamy stew from Ghent, traditionally with chicken or fish, vegetables and a broth thickened with egg and cream.

    Cuberdon (Neuzeke)

    Conical sweet with a firm shell and a viscous raspberry core, called Neuzeke in Ghent, meaning 'little nose'.

    Tierenteyn Mustard

    Sharp mustard from a traditional Ghent shop, often served with cheese or meat.

    Van Eyck, Gentse Feesten and City History

    World-Class ArtThe Ghent Altarpiece, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers, is one of the key works of Early Netherlandish painting. Since 2012, it has been undergoing restoration in several phases. The final phase, involving the seven panels of the upper register, is currently projected to last until spring 2027. Until then, high-quality photographs replace these panels in the cathedral, and at the Museum voor Schone Kunsten, you can watch the restorers at work. A painting by Rubens also hangs in the cathedral.Festivals and City HistoryEvery July, the Gentse Feesten transform the city center for ten days into a free stage for music and street theater. The festival has been held since 1969 and attracts over a million visitors. The STAM City Museum tells the story of the city and its inhabitants – a good starting point before exploring the old town.

    Nightlife

    1

    The Waterhouse on the Beer Side

    Cozy pub on Groentenmarkt directly on the Leie waterfront, with a wide selection of Belgian beers.
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    2

    't Dreupelkot

    Small pub on Groentenmarkt, specializing in Jenever, the Flemish juniper gin.
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    3

    Dulle Griet

    Traditionelles Biercafé am Vrijdagmarkt mit mehreren hundert belgischen Bieren auf der Karte, darunter Trappisten- und seltene Spezialbiere.
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    Getting There and Around in Ghent

    Getting thereFrom Brussels, IC trains run to Ghent about four times an hour, taking around 30 minutes; no reservation is needed. The main station is Gent-Sint-Pieters, with Gent-Dampoort located further north. By car, you can reach the city via motorways E17 and E40.Getting aroundTrams 1 and 3 depart from Sint-Pieters station for the city centre approximately every ten minutes. The old town is a car-free zone and can easily be explored on foot or by bike. Ghent has a Low Emission Zone (LEZ): vehicles with foreign license plates must be registered online before entering.

    Accommodations in Gent

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    Nearby

    Ostflandern

    The province between Bruges and Brussels has its centre in Ghent, the university city on the Scheldt and Leie. Ghent is home to the van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece and a Beguinage, a Flemish UNESCO World Heritage site.
    Bruges

    Bruges

    Bruges, in West Flanders and an hour by train from Brussels, has largely preserved its medieval core of canals, brick gables, and church spires. Its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000, showcases how one of Northern Europe's richest 15th-century trading cities appeared.Behind the famous Markt and Burg squares, museums hold works by Flemish Masters like Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. Evenings, once day-trippers depart, the canals, Beguinage, and old beer pubs revert to locals.
    Brussels

    Brussels

    Brussels is the capital of Belgium and home to key EU institutions, also one of Europe's great cultural cities. Around the Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998, are guildhouses, 19th-century covered shopping arcades, and countless brasseries; in addition, there's the Atomium, Victor Horta's Art Nouveau houses, and the Magritte Museum.
    Region Brussels-Capital

    Region Brussels-Capital

    The Capital Region comprises Brussels and its 19 municipalities, and is a bilingual enclave in the heart of Flanders. Home to central EU institutions and NATO headquarters, Brussels is also one of Europe's great cultural cities, boasting the Grand-Place and Victor Horta's townhouses.
    Middelburg

    Middelburg

    Middelburg is the capital of the province of Zeeland in the southwest of the Netherlands and is located on the Walcheren peninsula, north of Vlissingen. You come for the late Gothic town hall, the abbey founded in the 12th century with the Lange Jan tower, and a city center that was systematically reconstructed after its destruction in May 1940.