Ghent: Carillon, Museums and City History

Ghent invites you to discover history in different ways: take in views over the city from the belfry, explore art and city museums, or enjoy a boat tour along the inland waterways. City routes also offer practical guidance for planning your day. When looking for a holiday apartment in Ghent, you can start by asking yourself whether you mainly want to experience art and architectural history, or shape your stay around walks on foot and on the water.

Belfry, Art and Living History

A visit to Ghent’s belfry takes you from the lower Secreet to the gallery at the very top; from there, the view stretches across the city in all four directions. The tower is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The carillon is also remarkable: its 54 bells weigh more than 30 tonnes in total. At Gravensteen, a video guide is available in Flemish or international sign language. As availability may change, check which formats are currently offered before your visit.

The Ghent Altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers was unveiled in 1432. Its 18 panels depict a biblical vision. At the visitor centre of St Bavo’s Cathedral, augmented-reality glasses bring the altarpiece and the cathedral to life; service details may change. Huis van Alijn is dedicated to customs, traditions and rituals from the recent and distant past. It is housed in the only surviving Ghent Godshuis—a charitable institution that provided for poor, sick and elderly people.

City History, Science and Art Collections

STAM, Ghent’s city museum, tells the story of the city from the Middle Ages to the present through collection objects and interactive multimedia exhibits. Its architecture also brings together different eras: the museum comprises a 14th-century abbey, a 17th-century monastery and a 21st-century extension. Using a multimedia application, visitors can explore Ghent in detail across four centuries through an aerial photograph.

Ghent University Museum GUM covers disciplines ranging from biology and archaeology to psychology and medicine. It is located in the heart of Ghent University’s Botanical Garden, near MSK Gent and S.M.A.K. The Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK) is Belgium’s oldest museum. Its collection ranges from Jeroen Bosch and Rubens to Magritte, and includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, etchings and tapestries from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

S.M.A.K. was founded in 1999; its collection comprises more than 5,000 works of art dating from after the Second World War to the present. The museum also houses the permanent Broodthaers Cabinet, a presentation of works of art, editions, books and archival items by Marcel Broodthaers. Different approaches sit side by side: historical collections at MSK, art from the post-war period to the present at S.M.A.K., and a broad range of scientific disciplines at GUM.

Industrial Heritage and Historic Sites

The Industrial Museum explores life in factories of the past and Ghent’s industrial history. The spinning machine “Mule Jenny”, also known as the “Spinning Mule”, is still on display there. The museum also houses Europe’s oldest surviving twine mill, dating from 1789, and has a print workshop with working printing presses. These exhibits give the subject of industry a tangible form through objects and techniques.

In the courtyard of St Peter’s Abbey, a reconstruction based on historical models sits alongside a terraced garden laid out in the 18th century. Vines grow on the slope down to the Scheldt. Another historic ensemble is Klein Begijnhof O.L.V. Ter Hoyen, the best-preserved beguinage complex dating from before the French Revolution.

Planning Routes and Boat Tours

The Stadssafari walking route is available as a shortened 4-kilometre option and a full 6.5-kilometre route. It starts beneath the City Pavilion, but you can also begin at any other point. Construction work or maintenance may lead to route changes. A loop around the Watersportbaan is exactly 5 kilometres long. This makes it easy to compare the stated distances without assuming a walking time.

Various boat tours are offered on Ghent’s inland waterways, with captains providing commentary in several languages. Classic boat tours run daily, but schedules may change. So check current departure times before making plans. Families can also enjoy the “Het Geluidenspel” walk, which starts and ends at Huis van Alijn.

Discover more destinations: Sint-Amandsberg, Gentbrugge, Ledeberg, Drongen, Stekene, Eeklo, Zwalm, Lovendegem.

For the main travel overview: East Flanders.