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With all due respect to Belgium, Brussels isn’t one of my favorite cities. Their beer is fantastic, but that was the highlight of my 2007 visit. My return in June 2014 was a little better since I basically ate my weight in chocolate, but still, it’s not a city I have any desire to return to.
Ghent, on the other hand, is a remarkably beautiful town and it’s just 30 minutes from Brussels.
So why go to Ghent?
The History is Fascinating
At the confluence of two rivers, the Gravensteen Castle is literally right in the middle of the city. The current structure has been rebuilt and remodeled over the last millennium, but it remains in the same spot that various versions of the castle have stood since medieval times. Today, it is home to a museum detailing torture methods over the centuries: something you don’t exactly find everywhere in the world.
The Food is…Interesting
Forget all Belgian food stereotypes and instead try some local specialties. Het Groot Vleeshuis, the old meathouse, is a great place to find Flanders cuisine like smoked ham, mustards, and horse sausage. Unless you’re a vegetarian, they’re all worth a try and you can finish your meal with neuzen, a raspberry candy shaped like a nose sold from street carts or bloemenijs, flower flavored ice cream available from a small shop near the Het Design Museum.
The Architecture is Unique
Ghent is one of those beautiful European cities that has a reputation for being too cute, something that I don’t actually think is possible. Walking through the surrounding neighborhoods or along the canals gives you a good look at the Flemish building styles, even more impressive considering this is one of the few areas that wasn’t destroyed in World War II.
The Bars Are Downright Fun!
No doubt about it, Belgian beer is delicious and you’ll find it all over the country. However, in Ghent, the Dulle Griet bar takes your experience to a whole new level by serving beer in yard glasses with a wooden stand (historically used by coachmen who couldn’t leave their post or set their beer down). After tourists starting taking these glasses as souvenirs, they now require you to leave a shoe (yes, a shoe!) as a deposit. When you order a kwak, you’ll hear a bell ring and see a basket drop from the ceiling for you to place your shoe in until you’ve finished the drink and returned the glass.
The Town Legacy is Symbolic
In 1539, the people of Ghent rebelled against King Charles V, refusing to pay high taxes that the Flemish felt were only used to fight wars abroad. When the king brought his army to Ghent, he humilated them all by parading them in white undershirts and ropes around their neck. Today, there are many references to this part of their history: restaurants named after their stroppendrager (“noose-bearer”) status, a statue in the Prisenhof area, and even a re-enactment of the march each summer.
How to Get to Ghent from Brussels:
Taking a day trip to Ghent from Brussels is incredibly easy: just hop on a train for the 30-minute jaunt and get off at Gent-Sint-Pieters station. From there, much of the city is reachable by foot but trams and buses are also available.
Trains run hourly or more frequently and take about 30 minutes from the Midi/Zuid station (check that you’re on an “IC” fast train). Tickets cost roughly 9 euro each way, but discounts are available for youth under 26, seniors, groups, and on weekends, so be sure to ask if you’re eligible for additional savings.
Direct trains are also available from the Brussels Airport, Bruges, Antwerp, Paris, and other locations.
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What do you think?
Have you been to Ghent? Did you love it as much as I did?
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My all-too-brief visit to Ghent was part of my trip with Competitours, a group trip through Europe that includes crazy challenges, mystery destinations, and a cash prize for the winners at the end. However, even if you’re traveling on your own, you should include Ghent in your plans.
Beautiful smile Becky. Thanks for another tip on a new place to discover in Belgium.
@P T, Thank you. Hope you get the chance to visit Ghent on your next trip to the area!
Have to say that leaving a shoe deposit is a new one to me! Never heard of such a thing. But, it would make you think twice about taking the glass with you. After all, who wants to walk out of a bar wearing only one shoe?
@Scott, I’ll admit to have stolen a glass before (from Deschutes Brewery in Oregon — shhh, don’t tell!) but I can’t imagine stealing a yard glass. How could you possibly sneak it out?
I absolutely agree about Brussels. Just wonder, did you go to Antwerp? It’s my birth town and it’s a lovely place as well. (at least that’s what I think 🙂
@Kris, No, I haven’t been to Antwerp yet, but I’d love to include it the next time I’m in the area. I still need to head to Bruges along with several places in the Netherlands!
I’m a big fan of Belgium, and I agree that Ghent is worth a visit. It is every bit as charming as other cities in Belgium, easy to get around, and has some world class modern art museums, to boot. My favorite Belgian city, though, is Antwerp. Have you been?
@Paige, Unfortunately I haven’t been to Antwerp yet but it sounds like I need to add it to my return visit!
I haven’t heard too much about Ghent but I’ve heard similar things about Brussels. I really need to get to Belgium to experience the chocolate!!
@Stephanie, The chocolate is delicious! If you go to Brussels, I can recommend the chocolate workshops at Zaabar: https://www.zaabar.com/blog/en/visits-lessons
I like your article but Ghent is sort of fake, though not as fake as Bruges. Many buildings even though medieval in appearance are not and therefore they lack authenticity. Most of the building in the Historic Center of Ghent were either rebuilt or severely altered at the end of the 19th century and for the Ghent World Fair in 1913. Also the city was damaged during the two wars, not severe damage but it was. Even after the 1950s and 1960s there was a lot of reconstruction and that means the Historic Center is not original. Gravensteen Castle in Ghent is a a real fake medieval castle, the entire building was rebuilt between the end of the 19th century and 1907. It looks nothing the way it was during the Middle Ages. Again I like your article but it is always good to clarify.
@Al, Thanks for chiming in.