Arts Centre Vooruit

This bustling art centre is housed in an impressive 100-year-old monument and offers a variety of cultural events. The focus is on concerts and parties. The spacious Art Deco café and the modern patio at the side of the building are a meeting place for a snack, drink and chat.

• Web:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/arts-centre-vooruit

• E-mail:

  info@vooruit.be

• Address:

  Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23, 9000 Gent

• Phone:

  +3292672820

Boat trips in Ghent

Stretch your sea legs: the view of Ghent from the water is absolutely charming. Take a boat ride during your city break or weekend trip. There are various boat tours organised on the rivers and canals in Ghent. Travel back in time. Immerse yourself in the city of Emperor Charles V and discover hidden secrets. Ship ahoy! Different boat companies offer enjoyable trips on Ghent’s gentle waters. Traditional boat trips are held daily. The captain on board provides a guided tour in several languages. During the weekend, Ghent also has a water tram that navigates in a circuit around the city. Jump aboard at one of the water stops. It’s free with the CityCard!

• Web:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/good-know/practical-information/getting-around/boat-trips-ghent

• E-mail:

  visit@stad.gent

• Phone:

  +3292665660

Citadelpark

The Citadelpark is a park in Ghent on the brow of a hill between the rivers Scheldt and Lys. This city park was created in 1875 on the place where the Dutch citadel of Ghent formerly stood, built between 1819 and 1831. The citadel, one of the largest and most modern in Europe at the time, was later used as an infantry and artillery barracks. It was in use until 1870. Today it is a great place to enjoy botanical abundance. Spot the name tags that were placed in front of all the remarkable trees in 2005. Here, animal-lovers can take dogs from the rescue centre for a walk. Kids aged 10 and under can have fun in the playground. When the sun is shining, this spot is where Ghent residents and students come to chill out and have a picnic. Enjoy!

• Web:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/citadelpark-ghent

• E-mail:

  visit@stad.gent

• Address:

  Citadelpark, 9000 Gent

• Phone:

  +3292333954

City pavilion

The multifunctional and open city pavilion is an architectural masterpiece designed by the architects Robbrecht & Daem / Marie-José Van Hee. The roof structure and the use of glass, wood and concrete are very striking. This location can host concerts, dance performances and markets. Discover the ‘grand café’ hidden under the city pavilion: the semi-underground ‘Belfort Stadscafé en Stadsrestaurant’ is already a bubbly establishment which can cater for 300 people. Head over there for a drink, a daily special or a selection of the à la carte menu. The city park on the lower level, The Green, is surrounded by a stone wall. This is the place to be if you’re looking to relax, read or simply hang around. Stairs and ramps connect the park with the street levels higher up. Diagonal walking paths connect the Donkersteeg with the Mageleinstraat and Cataloniëstraat, inviting you to shop and enjoy a stroll. Works of art The existing art elements – the Minne sculptures and the Mathildis clock – were given a new place in the design. Spring of the Bereaved The naked youngsters look at their reflection in the water of the fountain, just like Narcissus, the Greek mythological figure did, out of narcissism. When the statue was placed here in 1937, the bourgeoisie thought it was immoral. Today no one is shocked by these naked boys. George Minne, the artist, sought inspiration in the statues on the Gothic buildings. The Roeland Bell The song “Klokke Roeland” (Roeland Bell) is probably the most famous folk song in Ghent. This bell is known as ‘The Triumphant’ and as ‘Roeland’, after the first large bell at the Belfry. The bell cracked in 1914 and was removed from the Belfry and restored. Today it is displayed on a specially designed base next to St Nicholas’ Church. Are you interested in witnessing the Ghent carillon for yourself? Then you must visit the Belfry. De Maagd The Belgian artist Michaël Borremans donated his fresco, “De Maagd” (The Virgin), to the city. It portrays a black-haired girl against a dark background. Except for a white collar, the girl is dressed entirely in black. Two crystal-clear rays of light emanate from her eyes. You can find the painting on the bell cage above the door of the lift. The artist’s signature at the back of the work, in the bell cage.

• Web:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/city-pavilion

• E-mail:

  visit@stad.gent

• Address:

  Poeljemarkt, 9000 Gent

Flea market at Bij Sint-Jacobs

A ten-day party around ten centuries of history A square steeped in folklore. Whether you visit during the Ghent Festivities in the summer or come to the weekly flea market, there is always something going on here. It is a real hotspot for bargain hunters at the weekend. And in mid-July, it is the epicentre of the Festivities with a capital F. The main stage at St James’ Church gets the whole city rocking! Ghent Festivities Bij Sint-Jacobs, the popular square around the stately St James’ Church, has been the centre of the Ghent Festivities for decades. This was where the festivities were given a new lease of life in 1969 at Café Trefpunt, by the folk singer Walter De Buck. An old Ghent tradition was reborn. What started out as a small affair among artists around St James’ has grown into an event that takes over the entire city centre, thanks to support from Ghent city council. The ten-day, non-stop party is packed with folklore, street theatre, puppet shows, and music, and has now grown into one of the biggest street parties in Europe! Flea market treasures Before and after the Ghent Festivities, the local atmosphere is never far away at Bij Sint-Jacobs. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning, this lively square is taken over by trinkets, baubles, small antiques and old junk. The flea market is a real Ghent tradition. And the market is so firmly rooted in Ghent culture that a whole host of vintage and curiosity shops have moved into the streets around the Romanesque church of St James, beside the famous antiques gallery, Gallery St-John. Bij Sint-Jacobs is the absolute place to be for collectors! A scarred fortress The mighty St James’ Church stands in the middle of the square. A rough, Romanesque fortress of God. Its imposing architecture, dating back to the 12th century, may be the reason that this old church is still standing. It has survived desecrations and an iconoclasm. It has been damaged, scarred and then repaired, restored and extended time and again. That has led to an interesting mixture of styles. The architecture is Romanesque with Gothic and Baroque elements. It is a genuinely remarkable piece of religious architecture.

• Web:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/flea-market-bij-sint-jacobs

• E-mail:

  visit@stad.gent

• Address:

  Sint-Jacobs, 9000 Gent, Belgium

• Opening hours:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/flea-market-bij-sint-jacobs

• More info:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/flea-market-bij-sint-jacobs

• Subway:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/flea-market-bij-sint-jacobs

• Tickets:

  Free

Flower market Kouter

A Sunday morning on the Kouter means a pleasant stroll around the flower market, stopping now and then for a klapke: a glass of white wine with an oyster. Bask in the elegance of life in Ghent. And why not enjoy a relaxed bite to eat at one of the great restaurants nearby. It is a favourite ritual for Ghent residents. You don’t need to wait for spring! Thanks to the daily flower market, you can see a bright tapestry of flowers every day of the year on the Kouter. But the best time of all to visit is on a sunny Sunday morning in spring. Stretch your legs in the first rays of spring sunshine, enjoy the colours and listen to music playing in the background. Blissful. If you’re lucky, a brass band will be playing in the bandstand. This is what we call the good life. Ghent’s most sophisticated gourmets gather at De Blauwe Kiosk at about eleven in the morning. This monument converted into an aperitif bar serves a glass of cava, fresh oysters and other amuse-bouches to connoisseurs at the market. Originally a hexagonal newspaper kiosk, this little building has stood on the Kouter since 1885, along with 38 other kiosks around the centre of Ghent. Today this one is the only survivor. Since 1990, it has had a new lease of life as an open-air bar. There is more here than just strolling, flowers and wine! The Kouter is also a hub of music. There is something here for everyone! The 19th-century Opera Gent building and De Handelsbeurs concert venue on the Kouter span the entire music scene, from pop, rock and world music to jazz, opera and classical music. Perhaps running through the entire offerings would be a bit much. Simply rest assured that the Kouter is the place to be if you’re a music lover. The Kouter is the perfect place to start a shopping spree in the Veldstraat.

• Web:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/sunday-stroll-kouter

• E-mail:

  visit@stad.gent

• Address:

  Kouter, 9000 Gent

• Phone:

  +3292665660

• Tickets:

  Free

Copacobana Festival

Every year the Sint-Baafskouterpark hosts the Copacobana Festival, a free festival at the park for all ages. Come and enjoy music, theatre and dance workshops and much, much more.

• Web:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/calendar/copacobana-festival

• E-mail:

  info@copacobana.be

• Address:

  Ledestraat 38, 9040 Ledeberg

Film Fest Gent

The Film Fest Gent has become a not-to-be-missed event on the Flemish and international cultural scene. It owes its success to events that keep making their return: dozens of quality films, major film music concerts by top composers and extraordinary exhibitions in the margin of film.

• Web:

  www.filmfestival.be/en

• E-mail:

  info@filmfestival.be

• Address:

  Leeuwstraat 40b, 9000 Gent

• Phone:

  +3292428060

Gent Jazz Festival

Every year in July jazz enthusiasts can have a great time during the Gent Jazz Festival. Renowned artists from Belgium and abroad make up the programme. Head to Restaurant Lof to enjoy lunch concerts.

• Web:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/calendar/gent-jazz-festival

• E-mail:

  info@gentjazz.com

• Address:

  Sint-jacobsnieuwstraat 50, 9000 Gent

Ghent Festival of Flanders

Ghent Festival of Flanders is an international music festival where diversity, creativity and top quality are essential. Discover classical and world music in a surprising artistic way, at different exclusive locations in and around the city of Ghent. Every year you can find at least 180 concerts listed on the program, where more than 1500 national and international artists are participating. Original concepts like OdeGand and Parklife make sure that the festival attracts above 60 000 visitors yearly and leave an unforgettable experience for young and old. Go to the website to view the full programme

• Web:

  www.gentfestival.be/

• E-mail:

  info@festival.be

• Address:

  Bijlokekaai 8 bus 9

• Phone:

  +3292439494

Jazz in the Park

Jazz in the Park (Jazz in ’t Park) presents Belgian contemporary jazz to a large audience by organising free concerts. Discover established names and local talent, bringing light-digestible jazz as well as the more complicated genre.

• Web:

  https://visit.gent.be/en/calendar/jazz-park

The Ghent Festivities

A sparkling cultural popular festival with numerous performances of various national and international artists: a unique event in Europe, thanks to the varied and free offer of (music) performances, (street)theatre, exhibitions, animation for children, fairs, parades and so much more!

• Web:

  https://gentsefeesten.stad.gent/

• E-mail:

  evenement.feesten@stad.gent

• Address:

  Gent

• Phone:

  +3292694600