A WEEKEND IN GHENT
G
hent is located in the Flemish
region of Belgium and is the cap-
ital and largest city of East Flan-
ders's. Tucked midway between
Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp, Ghent is the
perfect authentic Belgian experience, flooded
with culture, art, architecture and of course
a great selection of beer. It has canals like
Bruges, a lively art scene like Antwerp and
all the culinary delights of Brussels. Howev-
er the odds of feeling like you’re in a mone-
tised tourist trap are much slimmer. In fact,
Ghent actually barely reveals itself within
tourist brochures and when it does, it does so
in its typical quirky sense of humour;
‘Everyone is welcome as long as they don’t
behave like drunken tourists.’ or ‘If you don’t
like the way things are in Ghent, go home.’
and ‘In Antwerp, you can win a debate with
the loudest voice, in Ghent, we just ignore
you.’ As well as this rebellious attitude, the
city also has a youthful feel with its large
student population. Why not visit graffiti
street to walk along the colourful alley filled
with the illegal art, which police have chosen
to turn a blind eye to. Walking is generally
the best way to experience this compact city
with wonderful architecture scattered
throughout and delicious chocolatiers and
waffle houses lining every corner. For a more
canal.), De Acht Zaligheden (Traditional Belgian cuisine.),
‘t Gents Fonduehuisje (Fondue dinner with views over the
(riverside bar by the Belgian brewer.), Het Waterhuis aan
savoury treat why not try a Belgian classic,
The Cobbler Ghent (cocktail bar), Liefmans Plage
de Bierkant (beer house by the canal).
Restaurant & bar recommendations:
Moules-frites (Mussels and Fries) or Stoverij
(Flemish Beef Stew). Despite its historical
heritage, Ghent is a multicultural, modern
city with a diverse population. It’s no wonder
the city has been dubbed as the hipster capi-
tal of Belgium admired by design lovers,
foodies and fashionistas alike. There are
even rumours of some original Banksy street
art decorating the street corners. To experi-
ence the city’s rich history, head to the Old
City. The Gravensteen stands tall in the cen-
tre here, hugged by the city on one side and
the canal on the other. The castle originated
from the Middle Ages and is now a museum
welcoming visitors throughout the year. St
Michael’s bridge is the perfect spot for snap-
ping a postcard perfect photo of the three
towers of St. Nicholas Church, the Belfort
and St. Bavo’s Cathedral. Alternatively if
you visit in July, you’ll be treated to the 10
day long Ghent festival, which draws visitors
from all over the world and where locals pa-
rade through the streets wearing miniature
nooses around their necks. And even though
Gentenaars are filled with more then their
fair share of pride, they also don’t mind a
little humour at their own expense often
poking fun of their ways. It’s this combina-
tion that makes them so likeable and most
likely why rock star, Prince once called
Ghent, ‘the funkiest place in the world’.