Ghent

The “Flower City of Belgium” is the fourth largest city and the capital of the East Flanders province. The name is believed to have been derived from the Celtic word “Ganda” which means “confluence” – in the Middle Ages, Ghent was a settlement that was in the meeting point of the Scheldt River and Lys River. This historical city was once one of Europe’s richest and most progressive cities – from the 11th to the 13th centuries Ghent was only second to Paris and bigger than London or Moscow. It had a burgeoning wool industry and was home to the counts of Flanders. This glorious period in the city’s history is still evident in the impressive architecture of the buildings especially around the city centre.

The late 15th century saw the decline of Ghent, however, mostly due to political and social unrest. One of the notable points in the city’s history was during the reign of Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain.  A widespread rebellion was attempted to overthrow his authority but it was crushed and the city bore the brunt of the King’s wrath – buildings and houses were demolished and the city’s nobles were shamed in public. They were made to walk in front of the emperor with a noose around their necks. From then on, citizens of Ghent have earned the nickname “Stroppendragers” or “stropke” meaning noose bearers.

The city was further ruined during the religious wars in the 16th to 17th centuries, ending the golden era for Ghent.
Revival and restoration for the city started in the 18th century with the textile industry spurring the economic growth. Ghent was also assumed into the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Ghent University, Belgium’s first Dutch-speaking university, was established as well as a canal and a railway station.

Today Ghent is a thriving city and municipality with a population of over 590,000. It has a well-developed public transportation network, the third largest port in the country accessible via the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal and the State University of Ghent is one of the largest schools in Flanders. Tourism is also a major economic activity in Flanders, even though it is not as big as Bruges or Brussels.

Ghent is the site of one of Belgium’s most popular cultural festival, the Gentse Festeen. This 10-day celebration held in July started in 1843, intended to be days of revelry, music and fun. The Gentse Festeen has consistently drawn big crowds of local and international visitors, making it the third largest festival in Europe.  Every five years, the city is also host to the Gentse Floralien, a botanical show that attracts massive numbers of visitors to the city.

To experience Ghent is to explore the heart of the city with its medieval architecture. There are over 400 historical buildings but the best ones are to be found in the city centre. The city council has declared it a largely car-free area so pedestrians can enjoy walking around freely. The buildings and the skyline of Ghent can also be viewed by taking a boat ride or a cruise along the waterways of the Graslei and the Korenlei.  Most noteworthy attractions include the Saint Bavo Cathedral, a 16th century Romanesque style church that is the seat of the diocese of Ghent; the Saint Nicholas Church, one of the oldest and most prominent monumental structure in the city; and the 91-meter high Belfry of Ghent, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another popular attraction in the city centre is the polyptych painting of the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb which is housed in the chapel of the Saint Bavo Cathedral. The altarpiece panel was made by the brothers Hubert van Eyck and Jan van Eyck. There is also the Gravensteen castle, a majestic 12th century castle that was the seat of the Counts of Flanders. It was also used as a courthouse, a prison and a factory. Today visitors can get a guided tour through the castle and see the medieval torture devices that are still kept inside.

Ghent also has 18 museums and a few of the important ones are the Museum of Fine Arts which houses a collection of the works of Flemish masters; the Museum voor Industriele Archeologie en Textiel that provides a history of Ghent’s textile industry the Huis van Alijn which was a beguinage converted into a museum for folk art and history.

For a taste and a sample of Ghent, must-stop places include the Vrijdagmarkt, weekend markets that have been started in the 13th century and the Great Butcher’s Hall at the Groetenmarkt, an indoor meat market where visitors can also buy local East Flemish products.