{{Short description, none This is a list of notable people from Ghent, who were either born in

Ghent Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in ...

, or spent part of their life there.

People born in Ghent

Before the 19th century

Henry of Ghent Henry of Ghent (c. 1217 – 29 June 1293) was a scholastic philosopher, known as '' Doctor Solemnis'' (the "Solemn Doctor"), and also as Henricus de Gandavo and Henricus Gandavensis. Life Henry was born in the district of Mude, near Ghent. He ...

, scholastic philosopher (c. 1217 – 1293) *

Jacob van Artevelde Jacob van Artevelde (; c. 1290 – 17 or 24 July 1345), sometimes written in English as James van Artvelde, also known as The Wise Man and the Brewer of Ghent, was a Flemish statesman and political leader. Biography Jacob Van Artevelde was bo ...

, statesman and political leader (c. 1290 – 1345) *

Franz Ackerman Frans Ackerman (–1387), Latinised Franciscus Agricola, was one of the most famous Flemish statesmen and military leaders of the 14th century. Life Ackerman was born in Ghent. Rallying to Philip van Artevelde in the Ghent Revolt of 1379 aga ...

, statesman (c. 1330 – 1387) *

Philip van Artevelde Philip van Artevelde (c. 1340 – 27 November 1382) was a Flemish patriot, the son of Jacob van Artevelde. Because of his father's prominence he was godson of English queen Philippa of Hainault, who held him in her arms during his baptism. La ...

Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...

patriot (c. 1340 – 1382) *

John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster 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 ...

(1340–1399) *

Hugo van der Goes Hugo van der Goes (c. 1430/1440 – 1482) was one of the most significant and original Flemish painters of the late 15th century. Van der Goes was an important painter of altarpieces as well as portraits. He introduced important innovations in pa ...

, painter (c. 1440 – 1482) *

Alexander Agricola Alexander Agricola (; born Alexander Ackerman; – 15 August 1506) was a Netherlandish composer of the Renaissance writing in the Franco-Flemish style. A prominent member of the ''Grande chapelle'', the Habsburg musical establishment, he wa ...

, composer of the

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

(1445/6 - 1506) *

Jacob Obrecht Jacob Obrecht (also Hobrecht; 1457/8

, composer of the

(c. 1457 – 1505) * Adrianus Todeschinus, captain of the papal guard (1471–1546) *

Jacques Buus Jacques Buus (also Jakob Buus, Jachet de Buus) (late August, 1565) was a Dutch School (music), Franco-Flemish composer and organ (music), organist of the Renaissance music, Renaissance, and an early member of the Venetian School (music), Venetia ...

Franco-Flemish The designation Franco-Flemish School, also called Netherlandish School, Burgundian School, Low Countries School, Flemish School, Dutch School, or Northern School, refers, somewhat imprecisely, to the style of polyphony, polyphonic vocal music com ...

composer and organist of the Renaissance (c. 1500 – 1565) *

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (Crown of Castile, Castil ...

(‘’Charles Quint’’, 1500–1558) *

Cornelius Canis Cornelius Canis (also de Hondt, d'Hondt) (between 1500 and 1510 – 15 February 1562) was a Franco-Flemish composer, singer, and choir director of the Renaissance, active for much of his life in the ''Grande Chapelle'', the imperial Habsburg music ...

composer of the Renaissance, music director for Charles V in the 1540–1550s *

Jan Utenhove Jan Utenhove (Ghent 1516 – London January 6, 1566) was a writer from the Low Countries best known for his translations into the Dutch language of the Psalms and the New Testament. Life Utenhove was born into a Flemish patrician family in Ghen ...

, writer (c. 1520 – 1566) *

Lieven de Key Lieven de Key (1560 – 17 July 1627) was a Dutch renaissance architect in the Netherlands, mostly known today for his works in Haarlem. His style is described by Simon Schama as Mannerist. Biography De Key was born in Ghent, and was already a w ...

, architect (1560–1627) *

Philippe van Lansberg Johan Philip Lansberge (25 August 1561 – 8 December 1632) was a Flemish Calvinist Minister (Christianity), Minister, astronomer and Mathematician. His name is sometimes written Lansberg, and his first name is sometimes given as Philip or ...

, astronomer (1561–1632) *

Daniel Heinsius Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means "God is my judge"Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 68. (cf. Gabriel—"God is my strength"), ...

, scholar of the Dutch

(1580–1655) * Jean-Baptiste Loeillet (of London), flutist, oboist, and harpsichordist (1680–1730) * Jean-Baptiste Loeillet (of Ghent), composer (1688 – c. 1720) *

Josse Boutmy Josse Boutmy (1 February 1697 – 27 November 1779) was a composer, organist and harpsichordist of the Austrian Netherlands who established himself in Brussels. Background Boutmy was born in Ghent. He was born into a musical family; his grandfath ...

, organist and harpsichordist (1697–1779) *

Peter Anton von Verschaffelt Peter Anton von Verschaffelt (8 May 1710 – 5 July 1793) was a Flemish sculptor and architect. Verschaffelt designed, among other things in Mannheim, the high altar of the Jesuit church ('' Jesuitenkirche''), the arsenal and the Bretzenheim Pala ...

, sculptor and architect (1710–1793) *

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 ...

, industrialist (1769–1822)

19th century

Josse Joseph de Lehaye Josse Judocus Joseph de Lehaye-Dael (28 May 1800 – 22 September 1888) was a Belgian magistrate and liberal politician. As a politician, he was a member of the National Congress, burgomaster of Merendree, member of the municipal council and ...

, politician, (1800–1888) * Henri Colson,

burgomaster Burgomaster (alternatively spelled burgermeister, literally "master of the town, master of the borough, master of the fortress, master of the citizens") is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief m ...

of Ghent (1819-1900) * Eugène Van Bemmel, author and educator (1824–1880) *

Frans de Potter Frans de Potter (4 January 1834, Ghent – 15 August 1904) was a Belgian writer in the Dutch language. He was Chief Clerk of the ''Fondsenblad'' of Ghent, and from 1886 onwards secretary of the ''Flemish Academy''. He wrote an extensive oeuvre, ...

, writer, (1834–1904) *

Charles John Seghers Charles John Seghers (also written as ''Charles-Jean Seghers''; 26 December 1839 – 28 November 1886) was a Belgian clergyman and missionary bishop. He is considered to be the founder of the Alaska Mission. Biography Early years and formation S ...

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

clergyman and missionary (1839–1886) * Paul de Vigne, sculptor (1843–1901) *

De Vriendt brothers The De Vriendt brothers, Juliaan Joseph (1842–1935) and Albrecht François Lieven (1843–1900), were Belgian painters, both born at Ghent, sons of a decorative painter. Biography The two brothers were close friends, and their works show marke ...

, painters (second half of 19th century) *

Pierre De Geyter Pierre Chrétien De Geyter (; 8 October 1848 – 26 September 1932) was a Belgian socialist and a composer, known for writing the music of ''The Internationale''. Early life De Geyter was born in Ghent, Belgium, where his parents, originall ...

, socialist, composer, and wood carver (1848–1932) *

Victor Horta Victor Pierre Horta (; Victor, Baron Horta after 1932; 6 January 1861 – 8 September 1947) was a Belgian architect and designer, and one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement. His Hôtel Tassel in Brussels, built in 1892–93, is often ...

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...

architect (1861–1947) *

Henri Lammens Henri Lammens (1 Jul 1862 – 23 Apr 1937) was a Belgian Orientalist historian and Jesuit, who wrote (in French) on the early history of Islam. Education and career as a Jesuit Born in Ghent, Belgium of Catholic Flemish stock, Henri Lammens joi ...

, Jesuit and orientalist (1862–1937) *

Maurice Maeterlinck Maurice Polydore Marie Bernard Maeterlinck (29 August 1862 – 6 May 1949), also known as Count (or Comte) Maeterlinck from 1932, was a Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist who was Flemish but wrote in French. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in ...

, poet, playwright, essayist, recipient of the

Nobel Prize in Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 , ...

(1862–1949) *

Théo van Rysselberghe Théophile "Théo" van Rysselberghe (23 November 1862 – 13 December 1926) was a Belgian neo-impressionist painter, who played a pivotal role in the European art scene at the turn of the twentieth century. Biography Early years Born i ...

neo-impressionist Neo-Impressionism is a term coined by French art critic Félix Fénéon in 1886 to describe an art movement founded by Georges Seurat. Seurat's most renowned masterpiece, '' A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte'', marked the beginn ...

painter 1862–1926) *

Constant Montald Constant Montald (Ghent, 4 December 1862 – Brussels, 5 March 1944) was a Belgian painter, muralist, sculptor, and teacher. Biography Early years In 1874, while receiving an education in decorative painting at the technical school of Ghent du ...

, monumental and

symbolic Symbolic may refer to: * Symbol, something that represents an idea, a process, or a physical entity Mathematics, logic, and computing * Symbolic computation, a scientific area concerned with computing with mathematical formulas * Symbolic dynamic ...

painter 1862-1944 * Brice Meuleman,

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

, 2nd Archbishop of Calcutta (now

Kolkata Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...

) (1862–1924) *

Leo Baekeland Leo Hendrik Baekeland (November 14, 1863 – February 23, 1944) was a Belgian chemist. He is best known for the inventions of Velox photographic paper in 1893, and Bakelite in 1907. He has been called "The Father of the Plastics Industry" ...

, chemist and inventor of

Bakelite Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, better known as Bakelite ( ), is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from a condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. The first plastic made from synthetic components, it was developed ...

(1863–1944) *

Pierre Louÿs Pierre Louÿs (; 10 December 1870 – 4 June 1925) was a French poet and writer, most renowned for lesbian and classical themes in some of his writings. He is known as a writer who sought to "express pagan sensuality with stylistic perfection". ...

, poet and romantic writer (1870–1925) *

Karel van de Woestijne Carolus Petrus Eduardus Maria "Karel" van de Woestijne (; Ghent, 10 March 1878 – Zwijnaarde, 24 August 1929) was a Flemish writer and brother of the painter Gustave van de Woestijne. He went to highschool at the ''Koninklijk Athenaeum'' (E:Royal ...

, writer (1878–1929) *

George Van Biesbroeck George A. Van Biesbroeck (or Georges-Achille Van Biesbroeck, , January 21, 1880 – February 23, 1974) was a Belgian–American astronomer. He worked at observatories in Belgium, Germany and the United States. He specialized in the observation o ...

, astronomer (1880–1974) *

Gustave Van de Woestijne Gustave Van de Woestijne (; 2 August 1881 – 21 April 1947) was a Belgium, Belgian expressionism, expressionist Painting, painter. He belonged to the so-called "First Group of Latem", a group of artists who worked in the rural village of ...

, painter (1881–1947) *

Geo Verbanck Geo (Georges) Verbanck (28 February 1881 – 12 December 1961) was a Belgian sculptor and medalist. Early life Born in the city of Ghent (Flanders), Belgium, Verbanck spent his childhood in the care of a foster family at the countryside in Laar ...

, sculptor (1881–1961) *

Frits Van den Berghe Frits Van den Berghe (3 April 1883 – 23 September 1939) was a Belgian expressionist and surrealist painter and illustrator. Biography He was born in Ghent, where his father was the Librarian at the University of Ghent.Valerius Geerebaert Valerius Hieronymus Geerebaert (1884–1957) was a Belgian Redemptorist educator, preacher and author. Geerebaert was born in Ghent on 19 January 1884. He contributed to numerous journals and reviews in both French and Dutch. He died in Ghent on 26 ...

, Redemptorist (1884–1957) * Maurice Langaskens, painter (1884—1946) *

George Sarton George Alfred Leon Sarton (; 31 August 1884 – 22 March 1956) was a Belgian-born American chemist and historian. He is considered the founder of the discipline of the history of science as an independent field of study. His most influential works ...

, historian of science (1884–1956) *

Désiré Defauw Désiré Defauw (5 September 1885, Ghent, Belgium – 25 July 1960, Gary, Indiana, United States) was a Belgian conductor and violinist. During World War I he became a refugee, working in London where in 1917 he appeared at the Wigmore Hal ...

, conductor and violinist (1885–1960) * Jean Ray, writer (1887–1964) * Richard Minne, writer and poet (1891–1965) *

Corneille Jean François Heymans Corneille Jean François Heymans (28 March 1892 – 18 July 1968) was a Belgian physiologist. He studied at the Jesuit College of Saint Barbara and then at Ghent University, where he obtained a doctor's degree in 1920. Heymans won the Nobel Pri ...

, physiologist and recipient of the

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, accord ...

(1892–1968) *

Edgard Colle Edgard Colle (18 May 1897 – 19 April 1932) was a Belgian chess master. He scored excellent results in major international tournaments, including first at Amsterdam 1926, ahead of Savielly Tartakower and future world champion Max Euwe; fir ...

chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to disti ...

master (1897–1932) *

Henri Story Henri Albert Oscar Lucien Marie Ghislain Story (27 November 1897 – 5 December 1944) was a Belgian businessman and liberal politician in Ghent. He was born on 27 November 1897, in a prominent liberal family of textile business people. The Story ...

, politician (1897–1944) *

Emma De Vigne Emma De Vigne (30 January 1850 - 3 June 1898) was a Belgian still life and portrait painter, who came from a family of artists from Ghent. Her paintings were exhibited in Europe, as well as in South America. Biography De Vigne was born on 30 ...

, painter (1850-98)

20th century

Suzanne Lilar Baroness Suzanne Lilar (née ''Suzanne Verbist''; 21 May 1901 – 11 December 1992) was a Flemish Belgian essayist, novelist, and playwright writing in French. She was the wife of the Belgian Minister of Justice Albert Lilar and mother of the ...

, playwright, essayist and novelist (1901–1992) *

Jozef Vergote Jozef Antoon Leo Maria Vergote (1910–1992) was a Flemish Egyptologist and Coptologist. He was born on 16 March 1910 in Gent, Belgium. He received his doctorate degree in classical philology and oriental languages in 1932 from the Catholic Univer ...

, Egyptologist and

coptologist Coptology is the science of Coptic studies, the study of the Coptic language and Coptic literature.What is Cop ...

(1910–1992) *

Johan Daisne Johan Daisne was the pseudonym of Flemish author Herman Thiery (2 September 1912 – 9 August 1978). Born in Ghent, Belgium, he attended the Koninklijk Atheneum before studying Economics and Slavic languages at Ghent University, receiving his do ...

, author, poet, and librarian (1912–1978) * Théo Lefèvre, lawyer and prime minister of Belgium (1914–1973) *

Armand Pien Armand Pien (Gent, 2 January 1920 – Gent, 22 September 2003) was a Belgian weatherman for 37 years. He was popular because his weather predictions were funny and somewhat cryptic. His show, "The Weather", was broadcast twice a week. It was descri ...

, weatherman (1920–2003) *

Marc Sleen Marcel Honoree Nestor ( ridder) Neels (30 December 1922 – 6 November 2016), known as Marc Sleen, was a Belgian cartoonist. He was mostly known for his comic '' The Adventures of Nero and Co.'', but also created gag comics like '' Piet Fluwijn ...

, comics artist and cartoonist (born 1922) *

Willy De Clercq Willy Clarisse Elvire Hector, Viscount De Clercq (8 July 1927 – 28 October 2011) was a Belgian liberal politician. De Clercq was born in Ghent, son of Frans de Clercq.Etat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 62 After his law and notariat s ...

, politician (born 1927) *

Marcel Storme Marcel Storme (3 August 1930, Ghent – 30 March 2018) was a Belgian lawyer, member of the Ghent Bar, and Christian Democratic Party politician. He was the son of Professor Jules Storme and Maria Bosteels. He went to school in the Sint-Barbara ...

, lawyer and professor at the

Ghent University Ghent University ( nl, Universiteit Gent, abbreviated as UGent) is a public research university located in Ghent, Belgium. Established before the state of Belgium itself, the university was founded by the Dutch King William I in 1817, when the ...

(born 1930) * Jean-Marie Albert Bottequin, photographer and journalist (born 1941) * Graba' (Ignace De Graeve), designer and artist (1940-2016) *

Jacques Rogge Jacques Jean Marie Rogge, Count Rogge (, ; 2 May 1942 – 29 August 2021) was a Belgian sports administrator and physician who served as the eighth President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 to 2013. In 2013, Rogge beca ...

, former president of the

IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

(born 1942) * Gérard Mortier, musical artistic director (born 1943) *

René Jacobs René Jacobs (born 30 October 1946) is a Belgian musician. He came to fame as a countertenor, but later in his career he became known as a conductor of baroque and classical opera. Biography Countertenor Born in Ghent, Jacobs began his music ...

, counter-tenor and conductor (born 1946) *

Philippe Herreweghe Philippe Maria François Herreweghe, Knight Herreweghe (born 2 May 1947) is a Belgian conductor and choirmaster. Herreweghe founded La Chapelle Royale and Collegium Vocale Gent and is renowned as a conductor, with a repertoire ranging from Rena ...

, conductor (born 1947) * Marc Mortier, first CEO of

Flanders Expo Flanders Expo is a multi-purpose arena and convention center located in Ghent, Flanders, Belgium. Flanders Expo was founded in 1986 and officially opened in May 1987 with the third edition of Flanders Technology International. It serves as a venu ...

(1948–2004) *

Godfried-Willem Raes Godfried-Willem Raes is a Belgian composer, performer and instrument maker. He is the founder of the Logos Foundation of which he is still the president. He holds a PhD from Ghent University and is professor of experimental music composition at t ...

, composer, performer, and instrument maker (born 1952) *

Matthias Storme Matthias Edward Storme (born 1959) is a Belgian lawyer, academic and conservative philosopher. Family life Storme was born and raised in a Catholic family in the Belgian city of Ghent. His father Marcel Storme (b. 1930) used to be a universit ...

, lawyer, academic, thinker, and politician (born 1959) *

Dirk Brossé Dirk, Knight BrosséEtat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 20 (born 18 February 1960, Ghent) is a Belgian conductor and composer. He has composed over 200 works, including concerti, oratorios, lieder, chamber music and symphonic works. Bro ...

, composer, conductor *

Frank De Winne Frank, Viscount De Winne (born 25 April 1961, in Ledeberg, Belgium) is a Belgian Air Component officer and an ESA astronaut. He is Belgium's second person in space (after Dirk Frimout). He was the first ESA astronaut to command a space mission whe ...

, cosmonaut (born 1961) * Saul Akkemay (Panbello), freelance publicist and columnist (born 1964) *

Nic Balthazar Nic Balthazar (born 24 July 1964 in Ghent) is a Belgian film director and a TV/radio personality (presenter, reporter, producer). Family Balthasar was born into a Ghent family of politicians active in the Socialistische Partij Anders. He is the ...

, movie critic and film director (born 1964) *

Michel de Kemmeter Michel may refer to: * Michel (name), a given name or surname of French origin (and list of people with the name) * Míchel (nickname), a nickname (a list of people with the nickname, mainly Spanish footballers) * Míchel (footballer, born 1963), S ...

, entrepreneur and author in the fields of Personal development and Intangible assets and Human Sustainable Development (born 1964) *

Peter Goes Peter Goes (born 1968) is a Belgian author and illustrator of children's stories. His best known book is ''Timeline'', described by ''Financial Times'' as "hugely informative, hugely entertaining." Goes was born in Ghent. He has worked as a sta ...

, children's author and illustrator *

Helmut Lotti Helmut Lotti (born Helmut Barthold Johannes Alma Lotigiers; 22 October 1969), is a Belgian tenorGoldsmith B (2009)Belgian tenor Helmut Lotti wants to find his own style ''WDEZ''. Retrieved 23 April 2010. and singer-songwriter. Lotti performs in ...

, musician (born 1969) *

Filip Meirhaeghe Filip Meirhaeghe (born 5 March 1971"Rider Profile: Filip Meiraeghe"

, cyclist (born 1971) *

Matthew Gilmore Matthew Gilmore (born 11 September 1972 in Ghent) is a Belgian-Australian retired track cyclist, who mostly competed and was most successful on track for Belgium. Although Gilmore was born in and represented Belgium, he is the son of Australian ...

, cyclist (born 1972) *

Freya Van den Bossche Freya Van den Bossche (born 26 March 1975) is a Belgian (Flemish) politician and daughter of prominent former Belgian politician Luc Van den Bossche. She is member of the SP.a political party, and she was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Bud ...

, socialist politician (born 1975) *

Cédric Van Branteghem Cédric Marie Carlos Thérèse Van Branteghem (born 13 March 1979 in Ghent) is a Belgian sprinter, who specializes in the 400 metres. Achievements Personal bests *100 metres - 10.54 s (2003) *200 metres The 200 metres, or 2 ...

, athlete (born 1979) *

Bradley Wiggins Sir Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE (born 28 April 1980) is a British former professional road and track racing cyclist, who competed professionally between 2001 and 2016. He began his cycling career on the track, but later made the transition to r ...

, British cyclist (born 1980) *

Jonas Geirnaert Jonas Geirnaert (born July 28, 1982) studied animation at the KASK in Ghent. In May 2004 he won the Short Film Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival with his animated short ''Flatlife'' (11 min). Of the copy he sent in for selection only the fir ...

, creator of animation shorts (born 1982) * Iljo Keisse, cyclist (born 1982) *

Eline Berings Eline Berings (born 28 May 1986) is a Belgian athlete, who competes in the 100 m hurdles. She is the 2005 European junior champion, and took her first medal as a senior by winning the 2009 European Indoor Championships. Her personal best times ar ...

, athlete (born 1986) *

Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe (born 21 February 1989) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Hajduk Split in the Croatian HNL. Club career Odjidja-Ofoe joined the team of his birth area Gent at the age of five. Later on, he wa ...

, football player (born 1989) *

Kevin De Bruyne Kevin De Bruyne (born 28 June 1991) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Manchester City and the Belgium national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world. Pundits have often desc ...

, professional footballer (born 1991) *

Gijs van Hoecke Gijs Van Hoecke (born 12 November 1991) is a Belgian cyclist, who currently rides for UCI ProTeam . Career In 2011, when he was 19 years old, he was selected to participate at the Track Cycling World Championships, where he won the bronze meda ...

, cyclist (born 1991) *

Gaelle Mys Gaelle Mys (born 16 November 1991) is a Belgian artistic gymnast. The 2007 and 2008 senior all-around Belgian National Champion

, Olympic gymnast (born 1991) *

Xavier Henry Xavier Henry (; born March 15, 1991) is an American former professional basketball player. He played one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks before he was drafted in the 2010 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. Henry's brother, ...

shooting guard The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two, two guard or off guard,Shooting guards are 6'3"–6'7"BBC Sports academy URL last accessed 2006-09-09. is one of the five traditional positions in a regulation basketball game. A shooting guard's m ...

small forward The small forward (SF), also known as the three or swingman, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers but taller, larger, and stronger t ...

for the

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...

(born 1995)

Lived in Ghent

Before the 19th century

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 ...

Roman Catholic 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 lette ...

saint (584–675) *

Saint Bavo Saint Bavo of Ghent (also known as Bavon, Allowin, Bavonius, Baaf; AD 622–659) is a Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox saint. He was the son of Pepin of Landen and the brother of saints Begga and Gertrude of Nivelles. Life Bavo was born n ...

patron saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...

of Ghent (589–654) * Jan Boeksent, Franciscan Sculptor. *

Hubert van Eyck Hubert van Eyck () or Huybrecht van Eyck ( – 18 September 1426) was an Early Netherlandish painter and older brother of Jan van Eyck, as well as Lambert and Margareta, also painters. The absence of any single work that he can clearly be said to ...

, painter (c. 1366 – 1426) *

Jan van Eyck Jan van Eyck ( , ; – July 9, 1441) was a painter active in Bruges who was one of the early innovators of what became known as Early Netherlandish painting, and one of the most significant representatives of Early Northern Renaissance art. Ac ...

, painter (c. 1385 – 1441) *

Joos van Wassenhove Justus van Gent or Joos van Wassenhove (also: Justus or Jodocus of Ghent, or Giusto da Guanto) (c. 1410 – c. 1480) was an Early Netherlandish painter who after training and working in Flanders later moved to Italy where he worked for the d ...

, painter (c. 1410 – c. 1480) *

Maximilian I Maximilian I may refer to: *Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, reigned 1486/93–1519 *Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, reigned 1597–1651 *Maximilian I, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1636-1689) *Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, reigned 1795� ...

and

Mary of Burgundy Mary (french: Marie; nl, Maria; 13 February 1457 – 27 March 1482), nicknamed the Rich, was a member of the House of Valois-Burgundy who ruled a collection of states that included the duchies of Limburg, Brabant, Luxembourg, the counties of ...

married in Ghent in 1477 *

William Damasus Lindanus William Damasus Lindanus or Van der Lindt (1525 – 2 November 1588) was a 16th-century Bishop of Roermond and Bishop of Ghent. Biography William Damasus Lindanus was born at Dordrecht in 1525, the son of Damasus van der Lint. He studied philosoph ...

Bishop of Ghent The Diocese of Ghent (Latin: ''Dioecesis Gandavensis'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Belgium. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolis (religious jurisdiction), metropoli ...

(1525–1588) *

Jodocus Hondius Jodocus Hondius (Latinized version of his Dutch language, Dutch name: ''Joost de Hondt'') (17 October 1563 – 12 February 1612) was a Flemish people, Flemish and Dutch engraving, engraver and cartographer. He is sometimes called Jodocus Hon ...

, artist, engraver, and cartographer (1563–1612) *

Tobie Matthew Sir Tobie Matthew (also sometimes spelt Mathew; 3 October 157713 October 1655), born in Salisbury, was an English member of parliament and courtier who converted to Roman Catholicism and became a priest. He was sent to Spain to promote the pr ...

, English Catholic priest (1577–1655) *

Caspar de Crayer Gaspar de Crayer or Jasper de CrayerName variations: Caspar de Crayer and Gaspard de Crayer (18 November 1584 – 27 January 1669) was a Flemish painter known for his many Counter-Reformation altarpieces and portraits. He was a court painter ...

, painter (1582–1669) * David t'Kindt, architect (1699-1770) *

Jan Frans Willems Jan Frans Willems (11 March 1793 – 24 June 1846) was a Flemish writer and ''father'' of the Flemish movement. Willems was born in the Belgian city of Boechout, while that was under French occupation. He started his career in the office of a no ...

, writer (1793–1846) *

Jacques-Joseph Haus Jacques-Joseph Haus (5 January 1796 – 23 February 1881) was a Belgian lawyer. He was born in Würzburg to Ernest-Augustus Haus and Marie-Barbe Stang. He died in Ghent, Belgium. Haus attended school through to university in Würzburg. He achiev ...

criminal law Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It prescribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal law i ...

and

natural rights Some philosophers distinguish two types of rights, natural rights and legal rights. * Natural rights are those that are not dependent on the laws or customs of any particular culture or government, and so are ''universal'', ''fundamental'' and ...

professor at

(1796–1881)

19th century

Joseph Plateau Joseph Antoine Ferdinand Plateau (14 October 1801 – 15 September 1883) was a Belgian physicist and mathematician. He was one of the first people to demonstrate the illusion of a moving image. To do this, he used counterrotating disks with repea ...

, physicist, taught at the

(1801–1883) *

Louis XVIII of France Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier; 17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824), known as the Desired (), was King of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief interruption during the Hundred Days in 1815. He spent twenty-three years in e ...

was exiled in Ghent during the

Hundred Days The Hundred Days (french: les Cent-Jours ), also known as the War of the Seventh Coalition, marked the period between Napoleon's return from eleven months of exile on the island of Elba to Paris on20 March 1815 and the second restoration ...

in 1815 *

François-Auguste Gevaert François-Auguste Gevaert (31 July 1828 in Huysse, near Oudenaarde – 24 December 1908 in Brussels) was a Belgian musicologist and composer.N. Slonimsky, Ed., ''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians'', 8th ed., Schirmer Books, NY Li ...

, composer (1828–1908) *

Rosalie Loveling Rosalie Loveling (20 March 1834 – 4 May 1875) was a Flemish author of poetry, novels, and essays. Biography Rosalie Loveling was born in Nevele, Belgium, and was the older sister of Virginie Loveling, also an author, with whom she co-wrote p ...

, poet, novelist, and essayist (1834–1875) *

Virginie Loveling Virginie (Marie) Loveling (17 May 1836 – 1 December 1923) was a Flanders, Flemish author of poetry, novels, essays and children's stories. She also wrote under the pseudonym W. E. C. Walter. Biography Virginie Loveling was born in Nevele i ...

, poet, novelist, and essayist (1836–1923) *

Frans Rens Frans Rens (Geraardsbergen, 2 February 1805 – Ghent, 19 December 1874) was a Flemish writer. From 1823 up to 1843, he was an inspector of gold and silver work at Ghent, and head of lower education for the school area Lokeren. Bibliography * B ...

, writer, (1805–1874)

20th century

Erwin Schrödinger Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger (, ; ; 12 August 1887 – 4 January 1961), sometimes written as or , was a Nobel Prize-winning Austrian physicist with Irish citizenship who developed a number of fundamental results in quantum theory ...

, physicist (1877-1961) * Paul van Imschoot, Roman Catholic biblical theologian (1889-1968) * Arend Joan Rutgers, physical chemist and professors at the

(1903–1998) * Jean Daskalidès, gynecologist and director of Leonidas chocolates (1922–1992) *

Hugo Claus Hugo Maurice Julien Claus (; 5 April 1929 – 19 March 2008) was a leading Belgian author who published under his own name as well as various pseudonyms. Claus' literary contributions spanned the genres of drama, the novel, and poetry; he also l ...

, author, poet, dramatist, film and stage director (1929–2008) *

Jan Hoet Knight Jan Hoet (; 23 June 1936 – 27 February 2014) was the Belgian founder of SMAK (''Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst'' or Municipal Museum for Contemporary Art) in Ghent, Belgium. Biography Jan Hoet was born in Leuven, Belgium. Throug ...

, founder of SMAK (‘’Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst’’) (born 1936) *

Wilfried Martens Wilfried Achiel Emma Martens (; 19 April 1936 – 9 October 2013) was a Belgian politician who served as prime minister of Belgium from 1979 to 1981 and from 1981 to 1992. A member of the Flemish Christian People's Party, during his premiership ...

, Christian Democratic politician and prime minister (born 1936) *

Royden Rabinowitch Royden Rabinowitch, (born March 6, 1943) is a Canadian post-minimalist sculptor who exhibits internationally. Some critics consider him one of the pioneers of modern sculpture. Rabinowitch was elected Visiting Associate 1983/84; Visiting Fellow 1 ...

, Canadian sculptor (born 1943) *

Patrick Sercu Patrick Sercu (27 June 1944 – 19 April 2019) was a Belgian cyclist who was active on the road and track between 1961 and 1983. On track, he won the gold medal in the 1 km time trial at the 1964 Summer Olympics, as well as three world titl ...

, Belgian track cyclist (born 1944) *

Guy Verhofstadt Guy Maurice Marie Louise Verhofstadt (; ; born 11 April 1953) is a Belgian politician who was the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe from 2009 to 2019, and has been a member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Belgium ...

, liberal politician and prime minister (born 1953) *

Johan Vande Lanotte Johan Cyrille Corneel Vande Lanotte (born 6 July 1955) is a Belgian politician. He is a member of the SP.A, and became its party president on 15 October 2005. He handed down his leadership positions after the SP.A lost in the 2007 general elec ...

, lawyer and politician (born 1955) *

Herman Brusselmans Herman Frans Martha Brusselmans (; born 9 October 1957) is a Belgian novelist, poet, playwright and columnist. He lives in Ghent. He is one of the best-selling authors in Flanders, but controversial at the same time for his profane language and ...

, novelist and poet (born 1957) * Leen Ryckaert, psychologist (born 1957) * Dirk Braeckman, photographer (born 1958) *

Tom Lanoye Tom or TOM may refer to: * Tom (given name), a diminutive of Thomas or Tomás or an independent Aramaic given name (and a list of people with the name) Characters * Tom Anderson, a character in ''Beavis and Butt-Head'' * Tom Beck, a character ...

, novelist and poet (born 1958) *

Peter Vermeersch Peter Vermeersch (born 1959 in Waregem) is a Belgian composer, clarinet player and producer. He is a main character in several Belgian bands such as X-Legged Sally, A Group and the Flat Earth Society. His compositions, balancing between cl ...

, composer, clarinet player, and producer (born 1959) *

Michaël Borremans Michaël Borremans (born 1963) is a Belgian painter and filmmaker who lives and works in Ghent. His painting technique draws on 18th-century art as well as the works of Édouard Manet and Degas. The artist also cites the Spanish court painter Di ...

, painter (born 1963) * Lucas de Lil, composer and conductor (born 1963) *

Erwin Mortier Erwin Mortier (born 28 November 1965) is a Dutch-language Belgian author. Spending his youth in Hansbeke, he later moved to nearby Ghent, where he became city poet (2005–2006). He wrote as a columnist for newspapers like ''De Morgen'' and pub ...

, author and poet (born 1965) *

Bianka Panova Bianka Panova ( bg, Бианка Панова, born May 27, 1970 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian individual rhythmic gymnast. One of the Golden Girls of Bulgaria that dominated rhythmic gymnastics in the 1980s. She is the 1987 World All-around champion ...

, rhythmic gymnast (born 1970) *

Lorenz Bogaert Lorenz Bogaert, born 1976, is a Belgian serial Internet entrepreneur. He is co-founder of Massive Media, a social media company owning digital brands such as social networking services Netlog and Ablo and social dating community Twoo. Lorenz ...

, entrepreneur (born 1976) *

Gabriel Ríos Gabriel Ríos (born August 25, 1978 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican singer songwriter. Biography Gabriel was born in Puerto Rico, to Puerto Rican parents, and was raised on the island until the age of 17. He then relocated to the cit ...

, Puerto Rican musician (born 1978) *

Tyler Farrar Tyler may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tyler (name), an English name; with lists of people with the surname or given name * Tyler, the Creator (born 1991), American rap artist and producer * John Tyler, 10th president of the United ...

, American cyclist (born 1984)