World Tour: Ghent, Belgium

Author: Mystica Ari'Yena, July 2017

Ghent, land of the tolerant, home of the obstinate.

“European city-break sensation of 2017” – Condé Nast Traveler USA, 2017

“Heaven sent Ghent” – Daily Mail UK, 2013

“Ghent is Belgium’s best kept secret” – Lonely Planet, 2009

If you are looking for a place that combines rich history with vibrant contemporary activity then Ghent should definitely be on your list of ‘must go to’ places.

For the longest time Ghent has been overlooked as a destination and even Belgium itself was mostly used as a passing-through state between The Netherlands, France and Germany, our three biggest neighbors. In recent years though the world has seen the light, as is witnessed by the various reviews Ghent has received in international media and travel magazines of which the above are but three examples.

If this article comes across as a badly written advertisement that’s because I’m a teensy tiny little bit biased. As a born Ghentian I am particularly proud of my city and its history.

Remnants of human life have been found in this city dating as far back as 55,000 years BC. As one of the biggest and first established cities of the Middle Ages, Ghent has always been at the heart of European development and remains to this day a city full of activity, culture, wondrous sights and great fun.

The Capitol of East-Flanders, Ghent is one of the major cities of Belgium, has a history as long as memory goes and its inhabitants are known as hardy, honest yet stubborn and not much impressed with titles or rank.

How we became known as the Noose Bearers:

In 1540 Ghent rebelled against the Emperor Charles V and his never-ending ambition of conquest. In order to finance his invasion of Italy he taxed his held territories, including Ghent where he himself was born. All of them paid like good little citizens, except Ghent. When word got to him that this little itty bitty province of peasants dared to object against his Majesty, he set out from Spain to Ghent and arrived with an entire army. Hundreds of archers and halderbearers, thousands of German mercenaries, hundreds of Dutch cavalry, canons, you name it. It was all dragged back to Ghent where he ended up beheading twenty five city officials and took away the city’s privileges and had the remaining dignitaries march the street in white penance clothes wearing a noose and have them swear obedience to him on their knees.

Ghentians wouldn’t be Ghentians however if they had just taken that laying down. Pun intended.

So what did they do afterwards?

They took that noose and turned it in to a symbol of Ghentian pride.

The noose became a symbol for proud rebellion against any form of tyranny and misplaced authority. Ghentians call themselves a stubborn and proud (not pride) people who always leave room for other opinions and have a very high appreciation for sciences and free research.

Today, Ghent has grown into a cultural and university City while at the same time holding on to its history which can best be seen in its buildings, roads, waterways and other ancient structures.

The City is usually portrayed by its towers referring to the main buildings of the City Center.

As one of the first and most important Medieval cities, Ghent is swamped with majestic Cathedrals and Churches, ancient streets and guild houses and impressive defense structures such as the Gravensteen Castle which can be found in the midcenter of the city.

True to its roots, which go above and beyond the Belgian nationality, Ghent is first and foremost a European City. With its authentical, unique and individual strength, Ghent opens its doors to all that wish to come and sniff up the scent of the peculiar mixture of historical bravery, stubbornness, mischievous nature and contemporary views. It looks the future square in the face, knowing that whatever it brings, she will be ready for it and be a part of it.

The spirit of Ghent alive and drinking!

November 16th, 1949.

The student body of the Ghent University rises up and literally takes control and occupies the Gravensteen Castle in protest (as was believed by many at the time) against the raising of the price on beer. Not only were these students outraged by the nerve of the city officials to even think of such a horrific thing, but they were said to be equally shocked and outraged at the announced new headwear the Police would be wearing from then on. The head wear would namely change from a very outstanding white to a more subtle blue, which would make it more difficult for people to see the cops coming. The Ghent students had organised a grand 'coup' including students from universities all over the country, who all came to the call of their brothers and sisters in need.

It took the Fire Department, the entire Police Corps ànd the National Guard to take back the Castle from the students.

Public opinion was so fierce that the officials were helpless and not one student was charged in any way or form and to this day, the Student Occupation of the Gravensteen Castle is seen as the biggest and best student prank in the history of the city.

Ghent Festival!

Every year, starting around the 21st of July, the city is taken over for 10 days and 10 nights by the yearly festival that has been a recurrent event for at least 160 years, growing each year and becoming more and more an international festival to which literally millions of people are drawn to from all over the globe. And these are not just tourists. Artists of all sorts and breeds from all over flock to this event to show off their talents and creations all throughout the city.

The festival, being a citywide event, is done mainly in the open and for the entire period of the festival, the city is symbolically handed over to the Festival Mayor. Buses drive day and night to and from specific places at the edge of the city where people can leave their car or (the smarter ones) take the train back home.

One of the reasons Ghent is such a great place to visit is the willingness of its people to address anyone in their language of choice, be that Dutch, French, English or German. And if you speak a language they don’t know, they’ll still find a way to communicate. If they have to use their body or tap in to unknown drawing skills it may not be pretty, but it will be interesting and/or fun(ny).

So there you have it folks. I hope to one day be able to welcome you to my great city! Until that day, take care!