Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
in the
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region ( nl, Vlaams Gewest, ),; german: Flämische Region usually simply referred to as Flanders ( nl, link=no, Vlaanderen ) ; german: link=no, Flandern is one of the three regions of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and t ...
of
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
. It is the capital and largest city of the
East Flanders
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Province of Belgium
, image_flag = Flag of Oost-Vlaanderen.svg
, flag_size =
, image_shield = Wapen van O ...
province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in size only by
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
and
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, . It is a
port
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...
and
university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
city.
The city originally started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers
Scheldt
The Scheldt (french: Escaut ; nl, Schelde ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of Netherlands, the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corr ...
and
Leie
The Lys () or Leie () is a river in France and Belgium, and a left-bank tributary of the Scheldt. Its source is in Pas-de-Calais, France, and it flows into the river Scheldt in Ghent, Belgium. Its total length is .
Historically a very pollute ...
and in the
Late Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages or Late Medieval Period was the Periodization, period of European history lasting from AD 1300 to 1500. The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period (and in much of Eur ...
became one of the largest and richest cities of northern Europe, with some 50,000 people in 1300.
The municipality comprises the city of Ghent proper and the surrounding suburbs of
Afsnee
Afsnee is a village in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It is part of the urban area of the province's capital city Ghent.
It is situated at the banks of the river Lys.
Maurice and Anna De Weert
Anna De Weert, née Cogen; Anna Virginie C ...
,
Desteldonk
Desteldonk is a village in the municipality of Ghent in the Belgian province of East Flanders
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Province of Belgium
, image_flag = Flag of Oost-Vlaand ...
,
Drongen
Drongen ( French: ''Tronchiennes'') is a district within the city of Ghent (Arrondissement of Ghent).
Drongen is divided into three parishes: Drongen, Luchteren and Baarle, East Flanders, Baarle.
Monastery
Drongen is known for its early medieval ...
,
Gentbrugge
Gentbrugge is one of 25 districts ("wijken") of the city of Ghent, Belgium in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Gentbrugge together with Oud Gentbrugge had been a separate municipality before 1 January 1977, when it fused with Ghent.
Neighborhoods ...
,
Ledeberg
Ledeberg is a submunicipality of the city of Ghent. It lies south-east of downtown Ghent and has direct access to the E17 road.
Its population is 13,974 inhabitants (2005).
Notable people
*Jean Fonteyne
Jean Fonteyne (1899–1974) was a B ...
,
Mariakerke,
Mendonk
Mendonk is a village in the Belgian Province of East Flanders, a part of the urban area of the province's capital city Ghent
Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region o ...
,
Oostakker
Oostakker (), formerly spelled Oostacker, is one of the smaller former municipalities which were merged into Ghent (from which it is only two miles), the capital of the Belgian province of East Flanders. The hamlet is mainly known for the Shrine o ...
,
Sint-Amandsberg
Sint-Amandsberg is a sub-municipality of Ghent, Belgium. The municipality was formed in 1872 after splitting from Oostakker.
It is served by the Bus and train station of Gent Dampoort on the Ghent Antwerp NMBS/SNCB line.
During the First Wor ...
,
Sint-Denijs-Westrem
Sint-Denijs-Westrem is a village in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It is part of the city of Ghent, lying to the southwest of the city center, between Sint-Martens-Latem, De Pinte, Zwijnaarde and Afsnee.
History
Sint-Denijs-Westrem lies ...
,
Sint-Kruis-Winkel
Sint-Kruis-Winkel is a sub-municipality of Ghent, Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germ ...
,
Wondelgem
Wondelgem used to be a village in East Flanders, Belgium. It is now part of the city of Ghent.
History
In the 9th century the Carolingian emperors owned a large estate in Wondelgem. Ghent has a total population of about 230,000, of which about 12, ...
and
Zwijnaarde
Zwijnaarde () is a village in the municipality of Ghent, Belgium. It is known for its fair and its ''Zwijntjes'' beer. A cluster of biotech companies is located at the Zwijnaarde science park, with biotech companies such as Innogenetics, and DevGe ...
. With 262,219 inhabitants at the beginning of 2019, Ghent is Belgium's second largest municipality by number of inhabitants. The
metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...
, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 560,522 as of 1 January 2018, which ranks it as the fourth most populous in Belgium.
[Statistics Belgium; ''Werkelijke bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2008'' (excel-file)](_blank)
Population of all municipalities in Belgium, as of 1 January 2008. Retrieved on 2008-10-19.[Statistics Belgium; ''De Belgische Stadsgewesten 2001'' (pdf-file)](_blank)
Definitions of metropolitan areas in Belgium. The metropolitan area of Ghent is divided into three levels. First, the central agglomeration (''agglomeratie'') with 278,457 inhabitants (1 January 2008). Adding the closest surroundings (''banlieue'') gives a total of 455,302. And, including the outer commuter zone (''forensenwoonzone'') the population is 594,582. Retrieved on 2008-10-19. The current
mayor of Ghent,
Mathias De Clercq
Mathias Toon Cecil Willy De Clercq, Jonkheer, esq. (born 26 December 1981, Ghent) is a Belgians, Belgian politician. He is a member of the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats, Flemish liberal party. At the moment he is the List of mayors of Ghen ...
is from the liberal & democratic party
Open VLD
french: Libéraux et démocrates flamands ouverts
, abbreviation = Open Vld
, logo =
, leader1_title = President
, leader1_name = Egbert Lachaert
, foundation = 1992 (VLD)2007 (Open Vld)
, predecessor = Pa ...
.
The ten-day-long Ghent Festival (''
Gentse Feesten
The Gentse Feesten (; In Ghent dialect Gense Fieste "The Ghent Festival") is a music and theatre festival in the city of Ghent, Belgium. Besides stage events there are street acts such as mimes and buskers. The festival starts on the Friday before ...
'' in Dutch) is held every year and attended by about 1–1.5 million visitors.
History
![Ghent, Ferraris Map, 1775](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Ghent%2C_Ferraris_Map%2C_1775.jpg)
Archaeological evidence shows human presence around the confluence of the Scheldt and the Leie going back as far as the
Stone Age
The Stone Age was a broad prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years, and ended between 4,000 BC and 2,000 BC, with t ...
and the
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age (Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly appl ...
.
Most historians believe that the older name for Ghent, 'Ganda', is derived from the
Celtic
Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to:
Language and ethnicity
*pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia
**Celts (modern)
*Celtic languages
**Proto-Celtic language
* Celtic music
*Celtic nations
Sports Fo ...
word ''ganda'', which means
confluence
In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...
.
Other sources connect its name with an obscure deity named
Gontia Gontia () was a Celtic goddess. She was the tutelary deity of the river Günz, near Günzburg in Germany. She is known from an inscription on a Roman-era altar at Günzburg ( la, Guntia) that reads ''Gontiae / sac(rum) / G(aius!) Iulius / Faventian ...
.
There are no written records of the
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
period, but archaeological research confirms that the Gent area continued to be inhabited.
When the
Franks
The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools, ...
invaded the Roman territories from the end of the 4th century and well into the 5th century, they brought their language with them, and Celtic and Latin were replaced by
Old Dutch
In linguistics, Old Dutch (Dutch: Oudnederlands) or Old Low Franconian (Dutch: Oudnederfrankisch) is the set of Franconian dialects (i.e. dialects that evolved from Frankish) spoken in the Low Countries during the Early Middle Ages, from aroun ...
.
Middle Ages
Around 650,
Saint Amand
Amandus ( 584 – 679), commonly called Saint Amand, was a bishop of Tongeren-Maastricht and one of the great Christian missionaries of Flanders. He is venerated as a saint, particularly in France and Belgium.
Life
The chief source of details ...
founded two
abbey
An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns.
The conce ...
s in Ghent:
St. Peter's (
Blandinium) and
Saint Bavo's Abbey
Saint Bavo's Abbey ( nl, Sint-Baafsabdij) is a former abbey in the currently Belgian city of Ghent. It was founded in the 7th century by Saint Amand, who also founded Saint Peter's Abbey, Ghent, near the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers. ...
. Around 800,
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqui ...
, son of
Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first Holy ...
, appointed
Einhard
Einhard (also Eginhard or Einhart; la, E(g)inhardus; 775 – 14 March 840) was a Frankish scholar and courtier. Einhard was a dedicated servant of Charlemagne and his son Louis the Pious; his main work is a biography of Charlemagne, the ''Vita ...
, the biographer of Charlemagne, abbot of both abbeys. The city grew from several nuclei, the abbeys, and a commercial centre. However, in 851 and 879 the city was plundered by
Viking
Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...
s.
![Engelbert Van Siclers - De Kouter in Ghent in 1763](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Engelbert_Van_Siclers_-_De_Kouter_in_Ghent_in_1763.jpg)
Under the protection of the
County of Flanders
The County of Flanders was a historic territory in the Low Countries.
From 862 onwards, the counts of Flanders were among the original twelve peers of the Kingdom of France. For centuries, their estates around the cities of Ghent, Bruges and Ypr ...
the city recovered and flourished from the 11th century, growing to become a small
city-state
A city-state is an independent sovereign city which serves as the center of political, economic, and cultural life over its contiguous territory. They have existed in many parts of the world since the dawn of history, including cities such as ...
. By the 13th century, Ghent was the biggest city in Europe north of the Alps after
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
; it was bigger than
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
or
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
. Up to 65,000 people lived within the city walls. The
belfry and the towers of the
Saint Bavo Cathedral
Saint Bavo's Cathedral, also known as Sint-Baafs Cathedral ( nl, Sint Baafskathedraal), is a cathedral of the Catholic Church in Ghent, Belgium. The 89-meter-tall Gothic building is the seat of the Diocese of Ghent and is named for Saint Bavo of ...
and
Saint Nicholas' Church are just a few examples of the skyline of the period.
The rivers flowed in an area where much land was periodically flooded. These rich grass 'meersen' ("
water-meadows
A water-meadow (also water meadow or watermeadow) is an area of grassland subject to controlled irrigation to increase agricultural productivity. Water-meadows were mainly used in Europe from the 16th to the early 20th centuries. Working water-m ...
": a word related to the English '
marsh
A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found at ...
') were ideally suited for herding sheep, the wool of which was used to make cloth. Ghent was the leading city for
cloth
Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...
during the Middle Ages.
The
wool industry, originally established at
Bruges
Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the countr ...
, created the first European industrialized zone in Ghent in the High
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
. The mercantile zone was so highly developed that wool had to be imported from
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
and England. This was one of the reasons for Flanders' good relationship with
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
and
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. Ghent was the birthplace of
John of Gaunt
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (6 March 1340 – 3 February 1399) was an English royal prince, military leader, and statesman. He was the fourth son (third to survive infancy as William of Hatfield died shortly after birth) of King Edward ...
, Duke of
Lancaster. Trade with England (but not Scotland) suffered significantly during the
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French Crown, ...
.
Early modern period
The city recovered in the 15th century when Flanders was united with neighbouring provinces under the
Dukes of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy (french: duc de Bourgogne) was a title used by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, from its establishment in 843 to its annexation by France in 1477, and later by Holy Roman Emperors and Kings of Spain from the House of Habsburg ...
. High taxes
led to a rebellion and eventually the
Battle of Gavere
The Battle of Gavere was fought at Semmerzake, near Gavere, in the County of Flanders (modern-day Belgium) on 23 July 1453, between the army of Philip the Good of Burgundy and the rebelling city of Ghent. The battle ended the Revolt of Ghent with ...
in 1453, in which Ghent suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of
Philip the Good
Philip III (french: Philippe le Bon; nl, Filips de Goede; 31 July 1396 – 15 June 1467) was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty, to which all 15th-century kings of France belonge ...
. Around this time the centre of political and social importance in the Low Countries started to shift from Flanders (Bruges–Ghent) to
Brabant Brabant is a traditional geographical region (or regions) in the Low Countries of Europe. It may refer to:
Place names in Europe
* London-Brabant Massif, a geological structure stretching from England to northern Germany
Belgium
* Province of Bra ...
(
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, –
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
), although Ghent continued to play an important role. With Bruges, the city led two
revolts against Maximilian of Austria, the first monarch of the
House of Habsburg
The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...
to rule
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...
.
![Ghent hist centrum 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Ghent_hist_centrum_2.jpg)
In 1500,
Juana of Castile
Joanna (6 November 1479 – 12 April 1555), historically known as Joanna the Mad ( es, link=no, Juana la Loca), was the nominal Queen of Castile from 1504 and Queen of Aragon from 1516 to her death in 1555. She was married by arrangement to Phi ...
gave birth to
Charles V Charles V may refer to:
* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558)
* Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain
* Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise
* Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690)
* Infan ...
, who became
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans ( la, Imperator Romanorum, german: Kaiser der Römer) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period ( la, Imperat ...
and King of
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. Although native to Ghent, he punished the city after the 1539
Revolt of Ghent and obliged the city's nobles to walk in front of the Emperor barefoot with a noose (Dutch: ''"strop"'') around the neck; since this incident, the people of Ghent have been called "''Stroppendragers''" (noose bearers). Saint Bavo Abbey (not to be confused with the nearby Saint Bavo Cathedral) was abolished, torn down, and replaced with a fortress for
Royal Spanish troops. Only a small portion of the abbey was spared demolition.
The late 16th and 17th centuries brought devastation because of the
Eighty Years' War
The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt ( nl, Nederlandse Opstand) ( c.1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Refo ...
. The war ended the role of Ghent as a centre of international importance. In 1745, the city
was captured by French forces during the
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession () was a European conflict that took place between 1740 and 1748. Fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic and Mediterranean, related conflicts included King George's W ...
before being returned to the
Empire of Austria
The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central- Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, ...
under the
House of Habsburg
The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...
following the
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, when this part of
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...
became known as the
Austrian Netherlands
The Austrian Netherlands nl, Oostenrijkse Nederlanden; french: Pays-Bas Autrichiens; german: Österreichische Niederlande; la, Belgium Austriacum. was the territory of the Burgundian Circle of the Holy Roman Empire between 1714 and 1797. The p ...
until 1815, the exile of the French Emperor
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
, the end of the French Revolutionary and later
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...
and the peace treaties arrived at by the
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna (, ) of 1814–1815 was a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a possible new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon B ...
.
19th century
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Ghent's textile industry flourished again.
Lieven Bauwens
Lieven Bauwens (14 June 1769, in Ghent – 17 March 1822, in Paris) was a Belgian entrepreneur and industrial spy who was sent to Great Britain at a young age and brought a spinning mule and skilled workers to the European continent.
He starte ...
, having smuggled the
industrial
Industrial may refer to:
Industry
* Industrial archaeology, the study of the history of the industry
* Industrial engineering, engineering dealing with the optimization of complex industrial processes or systems
* Industrial city, a city dominate ...
and factory machine plans out of
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, introduced the first mechanical
weaving machine
The Jacquard machine () is a device fitted to a loom that simplifies the process of manufacturing textiles with such complex patterns as brocade, damask and matelassé. The resulting ensemble of the loom and Jacquard machine is then called a Ja ...
on the
European continent
Continental Europe or mainland Europe is the contiguous continent of Europe, excluding its surrounding islands. It can also be referred to ambiguously as the European continent, – which can conversely mean the whole of Europe – and, by ...
in 1800.
The
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent () was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. It took effect in February 1815. Both sides signed it on December 24, 1814, in the city of Ghent, United Netherlands (now in ...
, negotiated here and adopted on Christmas Eve 1814, formally ended the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
between
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...
and the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
(the North American phase of the
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...
). After the
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (at that time in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium). A French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armie ...
, Ghent and
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...
, previously ruled from the
House of Habsburg
The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...
in
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
as the
Austrian Netherlands
The Austrian Netherlands nl, Oostenrijkse Nederlanden; french: Pays-Bas Autrichiens; german: Österreichische Niederlande; la, Belgium Austriacum. was the territory of the Burgundian Circle of the Holy Roman Empire between 1714 and 1797. The p ...
, became a part of the
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
The United Kingdom of the Netherlands ( nl, Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden; french: Royaume uni des Pays-Bas) is the unofficial name given to the Kingdom of the Netherlands as it existed between 1815 and 1839. The United Netherlands was cr ...
with the northern Dutch for 15 years. In this period, Ghent established its own
university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
(1816)
[Ghent over the centuries: Concise history of a stubborn city](_blank)
/ref> and a new connection to the sea (1824–27).
After the Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution (, ) was the conflict which led to the secession of the southern provinces (mainly the former Southern Netherlands) from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the establishment of an independent Kingdom of Belgium.
T ...
, with the loss of port access to the sea for more than a decade, the local economy collapsed, and the first Belgian trade union originated in Ghent. In 1913 there was a world exhibition in Ghent. As a preparation for these festivities, the Sint-Pieters railway station was completed in 1912.
20th century
Ghent was occupied by the Germans in both World Wars but escaped severe destruction. The life of the people and the German invaders in Ghent during World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
is described by H. Wandt in "etappenleven te Gent". In World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
the city was liberated by the British 7th "Desert Rats" Armoured Division and local Belgian fighters on 6 September 1944, with the northern suburbs and the industrial area cleared over the following days by the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division
The 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that served during the Second World War. It was raised on 2 September 1939, the day before war was declared, as part of the Territorial Army (TA) and served in ...
.
Geography
After the fusions of municipalities in 1965 and 1977, the city is made up of:
*I Ghent
*II Mariakerke
*III Drongen
Drongen ( French: ''Tronchiennes'') is a district within the city of Ghent (Arrondissement of Ghent).
Drongen is divided into three parishes: Drongen, Luchteren and Baarle, East Flanders, Baarle.
Monastery
Drongen is known for its early medieval ...
*IV Wondelgem
Wondelgem used to be a village in East Flanders, Belgium. It is now part of the city of Ghent.
History
In the 9th century the Carolingian emperors owned a large estate in Wondelgem. Ghent has a total population of about 230,000, of which about 12, ...
*V Sint-Amandsberg
Sint-Amandsberg is a sub-municipality of Ghent, Belgium. The municipality was formed in 1872 after splitting from Oostakker.
It is served by the Bus and train station of Gent Dampoort on the Ghent Antwerp NMBS/SNCB line.
During the First Wor ...
*VI Oostakker
Oostakker (), formerly spelled Oostacker, is one of the smaller former municipalities which were merged into Ghent (from which it is only two miles), the capital of the Belgian province of East Flanders. The hamlet is mainly known for the Shrine o ...
*VII Desteldonk
Desteldonk is a village in the municipality of Ghent in the Belgian province of East Flanders
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Province of Belgium
, image_flag = Flag of Oost-Vlaand ...
*VIII Mendonk
Mendonk is a village in the Belgian Province of East Flanders, a part of the urban area of the province's capital city Ghent
Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region o ...
*IX Sint-Kruis-Winkel
Sint-Kruis-Winkel is a sub-municipality of Ghent, Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germ ...
*X Ledeberg
Ledeberg is a submunicipality of the city of Ghent. It lies south-east of downtown Ghent and has direct access to the E17 road.
Its population is 13,974 inhabitants (2005).
Notable people
*Jean Fonteyne
Jean Fonteyne (1899–1974) was a B ...
*XI Gentbrugge
Gentbrugge is one of 25 districts ("wijken") of the city of Ghent, Belgium in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Gentbrugge together with Oud Gentbrugge had been a separate municipality before 1 January 1977, when it fused with Ghent.
Neighborhoods ...
*XII Afsnee
Afsnee is a village in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It is part of the urban area of the province's capital city Ghent.
It is situated at the banks of the river Lys.
Maurice and Anna De Weert
Anna De Weert, née Cogen; Anna Virginie C ...
*XIII Sint-Denijs-Westrem
Sint-Denijs-Westrem is a village in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It is part of the city of Ghent, lying to the southwest of the city center, between Sint-Martens-Latem, De Pinte, Zwijnaarde and Afsnee.
History
Sint-Denijs-Westrem lies ...
*XIV Zwijnaarde
Zwijnaarde () is a village in the municipality of Ghent, Belgium. It is known for its fair and its ''Zwijntjes'' beer. A cluster of biotech companies is located at the Zwijnaarde science park, with biotech companies such as Innogenetics, and DevGe ...
Neighbouring municipalities
* Wachtebeke
Wachtebeke () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Wachtebeke proper, and a smaller town: Overslag. In 2021, Wachtebeke had a total population of 7.769. The total area is 34.53 ...
* Lochristi
* Destelbergen
* Melle, Belgium, Melle
* Merelbeke
* De Pinte
* Sint-Martens-Latem
* Deinze
* Nevele
* Lovendegem
* Evergem
* Zelzate
Climate
The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Ghent has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.
Demographics
Nationalities
Ghent is home to many people of foreign origin and immigrants. The 2020 census revealed that 35.5% of the inhabitants had roots outside of Belgium and 15.3% had a non-Belgian nationality. Many neighbourhoods already have a minority-majority population, primarily in the north, east, and west of the city and some pockets in the south. Some examples are Brugse Poort, Dampoort, Rabot, Ledeberg, Nieuw Gent/UZ and the area around Sleepstraat (known for its many Turkish restaurants).
Tourism
Architecture
Much of the city's medieval architecture remains intact and is remarkably well preserved and restored. Its centre is a Pedestrian zone, carfree area. Highlights are the Saint Bavo Cathedral
Saint Bavo's Cathedral, also known as Sint-Baafs Cathedral ( nl, Sint Baafskathedraal), is a cathedral of the Catholic Church in Ghent, Belgium. The 89-meter-tall Gothic building is the seat of the Diocese of Ghent and is named for Saint Bavo of ...
with the ''Ghent Altarpiece'', the belfry of Ghent, belfry, the Gravensteen castle, and the splendid architecture along the old Graslei harbour. Ghent has established a blend between comfort of living and history; it is not a city-museum. The city of Ghent also houses three béguinages and numerous churches including Saint-Jacob's church, Saint Nicholas' Church, Ghent, Saint-Nicolas' church, Saint Michael's church (Ghent), Saint Michael's church and St. Stefanus, Ghent, St. Stefanus.
In the 19th century Ghent's most famous architect, Louis Roelandt, built the university hall Aula, the opera house, and the main courthouse. Highlights of modern architecture are the university buildings (the ''Boekentoren'' or Book Tower) by Henry Van de Velde. There are also a few theatres from diverse periods.
The beguinages, as well as the belfry and adjacent cloth hall, were recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites in 1998 and 1999.
The Zebrastraat, a social experiment in which an entirely renovated site unites living, economy, and culture, can also be found in Ghent.
Campo Santo, Ghent, Campo Santo is a famous Catholic burial site of the nobility and artists.
One of the more notable pieces of contemporary architecture in Ghent is De Krook, the new central library and media center, a collaboration between local firm Coussée and Goris and Catalan firm RCR Arquitectos.
Museums
Important museums in Ghent are the Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent, Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Museum of Fine Arts), with paintings by Hieronymus Bosch, Peter Paul Rubens, and many Flemish masters; the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, SMAK or Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (City Museum for Contemporary Art), with works of the 20th century, including Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol; and the Design Museum Gent with masterpieces of Victor Horta and Le Corbusier. The Huis van Alijn (House of the Alijn family) was originally a beguinage and is now a museum for folk art where theatre and puppet shows for children are presented. The ''Museum voor Industriële Archeologie en Textiel'' or MIAT displays the industrial strength of Ghent with recreations of workshops and stores from the 1800s and original spinning and weaving machines that remain from the time when the building was a weaving mill. The Ghent City Museum (Stadsmuseum, abbreviated STAM), is committed to recording and explaining the city's past and its inhabitants, and to preserving the present for future generations.
Restaurants and culinary traditions
In Ghent and other regions of East Flanders
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Province of Belgium
, image_flag = Flag of Oost-Vlaanderen.svg
, flag_size =
, image_shield = Wapen van O ...
, bakeries sell a donut-shaped bun called a "mastel" (plural "mastellen"), which is basically a bagel. "Mastellen" are also called "Saint Hubert bread", because, on the Saint's feast day, which is 3 November, the bakers bring their batches to the early Mass to be blessed. Traditionally, it was thought that blessed mastellen immunized against rabies.
Other local delicacies are the praline chocolates from local producers such as Leonidas (chocolate), Leonidas, the cuberdons or 'neuzekes' ('noses'), cone-shaped purple jelly-filled candies, 'babelutten' ('babblers'), hard butterscotch-like candy, and of course, on the more fiery side, the famous 'Tierenteyn', a hot but refined mustard that has some affinity to French 'Dijon' mustard.
Carbonade flamande, Stoverij is a classic Flemish meat stew, preferably made with a generous addition of brown Trappist beer, 'Trappist' (strong abbey beer) and served with French fries. 'Waterzooi' is a local stew originally made from freshwater fish caught in the rivers and creeks of Ghent, but nowadays often made with chicken instead of fish. It is usually served nouvelle-cuisine-style and supplemented by a large pot on the side.
The city promotes a meat-free day on Thursdays called ''Donderdag Veggiedag'' with vegetarian food being promoted in public canteens for civil servants and elected councillors, in all city-funded schools, and promotion of vegetarian eating options in town (through the distribution of "veggie street maps"). This campaign is linked to the recognition of the Environmental effects of meat production#Fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, detrimental environmental effects of meat production, which the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization has established to represent nearly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The traditional confectionery is th
cuberdon
(also known as neuzekes or little noses). These are conical sweets with a soft centre, usually raspberry but other flavours can be found on the many street stalls around the city. Between 2011 and 2015 a feud between two local vendors made international news.
Festivities
The city is host to some big cultural events such as the Gentse Feesten
The Gentse Feesten (; In Ghent dialect Gense Fieste "The Ghent Festival") is a music and theatre festival in the city of Ghent, Belgium. Besides stage events there are street acts such as mimes and buskers. The festival starts on the Friday before ...
, the Flanders International Film Festival Ghent, International Film Festival of Ghent (with the World Soundtrack Awards) and the . Also, every five years, an extensive botanical exhibition (''Gentse Floraliën'') takes place in Flanders Expo in Ghent, attracting numerous visitors to the city.
The Gentse Feesten
The Gentse Feesten (; In Ghent dialect Gense Fieste "The Ghent Festival") is a music and theatre festival in the city of Ghent, Belgium. Besides stage events there are street acts such as mimes and buskers. The festival starts on the Friday before ...
is an annual festival that lasts for ten days. It has been held for more than 50 years (since 1969), but has not taken place in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, being held again in the summer of 2022.
The Festival of Flanders had its 50th celebration in 2008. In Ghent, it opens with the OdeGand City festivities that take place on the second Saturday of September. Some 50 concerts take place in diverse locations throughout the medieval inner city and some 250 international artists perform..
The city of Ghent will co-host the 2021 World Choir Games together with the city of Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, . Organised by the Interkultur Foundation, the World Choir Games is the biggest choral competition and festival in the world.
Nature
The numerous parks in the city can also be considered tourist attractions. Most notably, Ghent boasts a nature reserve (Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen, 230 hectare (570 acre)) and a recreation park (Blaarmeersen, 87 hectares; 215 acres).
Economy
The port of Ghent, in the north of the city, is the third-largest port of Belgium. It is accessed by the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal, which ends near the Netherlands, Dutch port of Terneuzen on the Western Scheldt. The port houses, among others, large companies like ArcelorMittal, Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Parts, Honda, and Stora Enso.
The Ghent University and several research-oriented companies, such as Ablynx, Innogenetics, Cropdesign, and Bayer Cropscience, are situated in the central and southern part of the city.
As the largest city in East Flanders, Ghent has many hospitals, schools, and shopping streets. Flanders Expo, the biggest event hall in Flanders and the second biggest in Belgium, is also located in Ghent. Tourism is becoming a major employer in the local area.
Transport
As one of the largest cities in Belgium, Ghent has a highly developed transport system.
Road
By car the city is accessible via two motorways:
*The European route E40, E40 connects Ghent with Bruges
Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the countr ...
and Ostend to the west, and with Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
, Leuven and Liège to the east.
*The European route E17, E17 connects Ghent with Sint-Niklaas and Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, to the north, and with Kortrijk and Lille to the south.
In addition, Ghent also has two ringways:
*The R4 connects the outskirts of Ghent with each other and the surrounding villages, and also leads to the European route E40, E40 and European route E17, E17 roads.
*The R40 connects the different downtown quarters with each other and provides access to the main avenues.
Rail
The municipality of Ghent comprises five railway stations:
*Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station, Gent-Sint-Pieters Station: an international railway station with connections to Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp, Kortrijk, other Belgian towns, and Lille. The station also offers a direct connection to Brussels Airport.
*Gent-Dampoort railway station, Gent-Dampoort Station: an intercity railway station with connections to Sint-Niklaas, Antwerp, Kortrijk and Eeklo.
*Gentbrugge Station: a regional railway station in between the two main railway stations, Sint-Pieters and Dampoort.
*Wondelgem Station: a regional railway station with connections to Eeklo once an hour.
*Drongen Station: a regional railway station in the village of Drongen
Drongen ( French: ''Tronchiennes'') is a district within the city of Ghent (Arrondissement of Ghent).
Drongen is divided into three parishes: Drongen, Luchteren and Baarle, East Flanders, Baarle.
Monastery
Drongen is known for its early medieval ...
with connections to Bruges
Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the countr ...
once an hour.
*Gent-Zeehaven station: a regional railway station in the port of Ghent with connections to Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station, Gent-Sint-Pieters Station and the town of Terneuzen in Netherlands, The Netherlands.
Public transport
Ghent has an extensive network of public transport lines, operated by ''De Lijn''.
Trams
*Line 1: Flanders Expo – Sint-Pieters-Station – Korenmarkt (city centre) – Wondelgem – Evergem
*Line 2: Zwijnaarde Bibliotheek – Sint-Pieters-Station – Zonnestraat (city centre) – Brabantdam – Zuid – Melle, Belgium, Melle Leeuw (fuse of line 21 and 22 as of May 2017)
*Line 4: UZ – Sint-Pieters-Station – Muide – Korenmarkt (city centre) – Zuid – Moscou (Ghent), Moscou
*Line 21: Zwijnaarde Bibliotheek – Sint-Pieters-Station – Zonnestraat (city centre) – Zuid – Melle, Belgium, Melle Leeuw (fused into line 2)
*Line 22: Kouter – Bijlokehof – Sint-Pieters-Station – Zonnestraat (city centre) – Zuid – Gentbrugge
Gentbrugge is one of 25 districts ("wijken") of the city of Ghent, Belgium in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Gentbrugge together with Oud Gentbrugge had been a separate municipality before 1 January 1977, when it fused with Ghent.
Neighborhoods ...
(fused into line 2)
Buses
*Line 3: Mariakerke – Korenmarkt (city centre) – Dampoort – Gentbrugge (formerly a trolleybus line; see picture below)
*Line 5: Van Beverenplein – Sint-Jacobs (city centre) – Zuid – Heuvelpoort – Nieuw-Gent
*Line 6: Watersportbaan – Zuid – Dampoort – Meulestede – Wondelgem – Mariakerke
*Line 8: AZ Sint-Lucas – Sint-Jacobs (city centre) – Zuid – Heuvelpoort – Arteveldepark
*Line 9: Mariakerke – Malem, Ghent, Malem – Sint-Pieters-Station – Ledeberg – Gentbrugge
*Line 17/18: Drongen – Malem – Korenmarkt (city centre) – Dampoort – Oostakker
Oostakker (), formerly spelled Oostacker, is one of the smaller former municipalities which were merged into Ghent (from which it is only two miles), the capital of the Belgian province of East Flanders. The hamlet is mainly known for the Shrine o ...
*Line 38/39: Blaarmeersen – Ekkergem – Korenmarkt (city centre) – Dampoort – Sint-Amandsberg
Sint-Amandsberg is a sub-municipality of Ghent, Belgium. The municipality was formed in 1872 after splitting from Oostakker.
It is served by the Bus and train station of Gent Dampoort on the Ghent Antwerp NMBS/SNCB line.
During the First Wor ...
Apart from the city buses mentioned above, Ghent also has numerous regional bus lines connecting it to towns and villages across the province of East Flanders. All of these buses stop in at least one of the city's regional bus hubs at either Sint-Pieters Station, Dampoort Station, Zuid or Rabot.
International buses connecting Ghent to other European destinations are usually found at the Dampoort Station. A couple of private bus companies such as Eurolines, Megabus and Flixbus operate from the Dampoort bus hub.
Buses to and from Belgium's first (Brussels Airport) and second airport (Brussels South Charleroi Airport) are operated by Flibco, and can be found at the rear exit of the Sint-Pieters Station.
Cycling
Ghent has the largest designated cyclist area in Europe, with nearly of cycle paths and more than 700 one-way streets, where bikes are allowed to go against the traffic. It also boasts Belgium's first bicycle boulevard, where cars are considered 'guests' and must stay behind cyclists. In 2013 it began doing on-street surveys of bicycles, adding bicycle parking racks in neighbourhoods where they were needed. In 2017 the city changed traffic circulation patterns to favour cycling. The switch was done over the course of a single weekend, changing traffic circulation on over 80 streets and 2500 road signs. It expanded the car-free zone in the historic city center more than twofold. It also put in radial barriers to car traffic, thus shifting it onto the inner ring road.
More cyclists means a higher demand for bicycle parking stations. In 2010, the plans to renovate Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station, included 10,000 bicycle parking spots. In 2020 several sections of the underground parking facilities have been built, and the targets have been adjusted to a total of 17,000 parking spots.
Sports
In the Belgian First Division, Belgian first football division Ghent is represented by K.A.A. Gent, who became Belgian football champions for the first time in its history in 2015. Another Ghent football club is KRC Gent-Zeehaven, playing in the Belgian fourth division. A football match at the 1920 Summer Olympics was held in Ghent.
The Six Days of Ghent, a Six-day racing, six-day track cycling race, is held annually, taking place in the Kuipke velodrome in Ghent. In road cycling, the city hosts the start and finish of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the traditional opening race of the cobbled classics season. It also lends its name to another cobbled classic, Gent–Wevelgem, although the race now starts in the nearby city of Deinze.
The city hosts an annual athletics (sport), athletics IAAF event in the Flanders Sports Arena: the Indoor Flanders meeting where two-time Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj set an indoor List of world records in athletics, world record of 3:48.45 in the mile run in 1997.
The Flanders Sports Arena was host to the 2015 Davis cup, Davis Cup Final between Belgium Davis Cup Team, Belgium and British Davis Cup Team, Great Britain.
Notable people
* Frans Ackerman (ca.1330–1387), Flemish statesmen and military leader.
* Charlotte Adigéry, (born ca.1995) Belgian-Caribbean musician
* Alexander Agricola, (ca.1445–1506) Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance
* Leo Baekeland, (1863–1944) chemist and inventor of Bakelite
* Saint Bavo, (589–654) patron saint of Ghent
* Marthe Boël, (1877–1956) feminist
* Josse Boutmy, (1697–1779) composer, organist and harpsichordist
* Cornelius Canis, (ca.1505–1562) composer, music director for the chapel of Charles V
* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, (1500–1558) ''Karel V, Charles Quint''.
* Willy De Clercq, (1927–2011) liberal politician and European Commissioner
* Caspar de Crayer, (1582–1669) painter
* Pedro de Gante, (ca.1480–1572) Franciscan missionary in Mexico
* Frans de Potter, (1834–1904) writer
* Emma De Vigne, (1850–98) painter
* Paul de Vigne, (1843–1901) sculptor.
* De Vriendt brothers Juliaan Joseph (1842–1935) & Albrecht François Lieven (1843–1900) painters.
* Charlotte de Witte, (born 1992) DJ and record producer
* Joseph Guislain, (1797–1860) physician
* Daniel Heinsius, (1580–1655) scholar of the Dutch Renaissance.
* Henry of Ghent, (ca.1217–1293) Scholasticism, scholastic philosopher.
* Corneille Jean François Heymans, (1892–1968) physiologist and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
* Victor Horta, (1861–1947) Art Nouveau architect
* John of Gaunt, (1340–1399) English royal prince, military leader and statesman.
* Suzanne Lilar, (1901–1992) essayist, novelist, and playwright
* Saint Livinus of Ghent, (580–657) saint and martyr
* Louis XVIII of France, (1755–1824) was exiled in Ghent in 1815 during the Hundred Days.
* Pierre Louÿs, (1870–1925) poet and romantic writer
* Maurice Maeterlinck, (1862–1949) poet & playwright, won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
* Hippolyte Metdepenningen, (1799–1881) lawyer and politician
* Gerard Mortier, (born 1943) Belgian opera director
* Jacob Obrecht, (ca.1457–1505) composer of the Renaissance
* Adolphe Quetelet (1796–1874) astronomer, mathematician, statistician and sociologist.
* Frans Rens, (1805–1874) writer
* Gabriel Ríos, (born 1978) musician
* Charles John Seghers, (1839–1886) Jesuit clergyman and missionary
* Soulwax, (formed 1995) electronic/rock band headed by David and Stephen Dewaele
* Jacob van Artevelde, (ca.1290–1345) statesman and political leader.
* Gustave Van de Woestijne, (1881–1947) painter
* Karel van de Woestijne, (1878–1929) writer
* Hugo van der Goes, (ca.1440–1482) painter.
* Jan van Eyck, (ca.1385–1441) painter.
* Geo Verbanck, (1881-1961) sculptor
* Jan Frans Willems, (1793–1846) writer.
![14-01-10-tbh-263-jacques-rogge](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/14-01-10-tbh-263-jacques-rogge.jpg)
Sport
* Tiesj Benoot, (born 1994) cyclist
* Kevin De Bruyne, (born 1991) professional footballer
* Xavier Henry, (born 1991) shooting guard/small forward for the National Basketball Association, NBA's Los Angeles Lakers
* Gaelle Mys, (born 1991) Olympic gymnast
* Jacques Rogge, (1942-2021) former president of the International Olympic Committee, IOC
* Patrick Sercu, (1944-2019) Belgian track cyclist
* Cédric Van Branteghem, (born 1979) athlete
* Bradley Wiggins, (born 1980) British cyclist
International relations
Twin towns – sister cities
Ghent is Twin towns and sister cities, twinned with:
Gallery
File:Sint-Baafskathedraal_(St._Bavo's_Cathedral)_Ghent_Belgium_October.jpg, St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent, St Bavo's Cathedral
File:Gent, de Sint-Niklaaskerk oeg25149 IMG 0686 2021-08-15 10.40.jpg, The Sint-Niklaaskerk
File:Belfry_of_Ghent_(DSCF0247,DSCF0249).jpg, Belfry of Ghent, Belfry
File:Oud_Postkantoor,_Ghent_(DSCF0257-DSCF0261).jpg, Old Post Office on Korenmarkt, Ghent, Korenmarkt Square
File:25890_Gravensteen_bij_zonsondergang_vanuit_de_Sint-Widostraat.jpg, Gravensteen, Gravensteen Castle
File:Graslei_gent_avondlicht.jpg, Graslei, Graslei Quay
File:Gent, de Korenlei met oeg25136-40 vanaf de Graslei IMG 0592 2021-08-15 09.12.jpg, Korenlei
File:Gent, De Lingtworm en Krocht oeg25148 IMG 0609 2021-08-15 09.27.jpg, De Lingtworm en Krocht
File:Gent_Veerleplein_006.JPG, Entrance gate of ''Oude Vismijn'' ("Old Fish Market")
File:Het_Rabot_03.jpg, The Rabot Gate
File:Gent, Volkshuis Ons Huis oeg26052 op de Vrijdagmarkt IMG 0697 2021-08-15 11.29.jpg, Volkshuis Ons Huis at the Vrijdagmarkt
File:Jacob_van_Artevelde_2015.jpg, Vrijdagmarkt Square with statue of Jacob van Artevelde
File:Gent, standbeeld Lieven Bauwens IMG 0647 2021-08-15 10.11.jpg, Statue Lieven Bauwens
File:Gent, Geeraard de Duivelsteen oeg24673 IMG 0656 2021-08-15 10.18.jpg, Monumentaal house: Geeraard de Duivelsteen
File:Vooruitvoorgevel.JPG, Vooruit, Vooruit Arts Center
File:Hotel_d'Hane-Steenhuyse_-_225133_-_onroerenderfgoed.jpg, City palace Hotel d'Hane-Steenhuyse
File:Gent_Gandastraat_Zonder_Nummer_Abdij_-_23169_-_onroerenderfgoed.jpg, Ruins of Saint Bavo's Abbey
Saint Bavo's Abbey ( nl, Sint-Baafsabdij) is a former abbey in the currently Belgian city of Ghent. It was founded in the 7th century by Saint Amand, who also founded Saint Peter's Abbey, Ghent, near the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers. ...
File:Gent, hoekhuis Hippoliet Lippensplein 25 (oeg19000) op kruispunt Vlaanderenstraat-Brabantdam IMG 0628 2021-08-15 09.51.jpg, Corner house Hippoliet Lippensplein 25
File:Gent, Groot Kanon oeg200796 IMG 0750 2021-08-15 14.09.jpg, Monument: Groot Kanon
File:Gent, de Augustijnenkaai IMG 0766 2021-08-15 15.05.jpg, Street view: the Augustijnenkaai
File:Cuberdon_-_De_echte_Gentse_neuzen.jpg, Cuberdon: A popular local delicacy
See also
* List of Mayors of Ghent
* Port of Ghent
References
Further reading
External links
*
Official Tourist website
Flanders Tourism Website
{{Authority control
Ghent,
Municipalities of East Flanders
Port cities and towns in Belgium
Provincial capitals of Flanders