Ghent - In Your Pocket

4 Foreword
Forget Bruges, Antwerp, and even Brussels: it’s Ghent,
a modern, buzzing city with a wonderful medieval centre
that should be on top of your ‘things to visit in Belgium’
list. The city’s many beautiful historical buildings, winding
canals, bustling international port, top-rated university,
museums, shops, restaurants and bars are guaranteed
to make a visit worth your while.
What Ghent might lack in size (it only has around
250,000 inhabitants), and medieval facades (slightly
fewer than Bruges), it makes up for in jovial atmosphere,
cultural activities, unstoppable entrepreneurial drive,
and unmistakable joie de vivre. A case in point is the
infamous ten-day-long Ghent Festival (Gentse Feesten
in Dutch), held every summer. About two million visitors
attend the Stroppendragers’ (see Noose-bearers on
p.11) party each year.
Ghent is a city of contrasts: it effortlessly combines
the old and the new in its architecture, traditions
and citizens alike. Amidst the medieval Saint Bavo’s
Cathedral and Belfroy, young families go about their lives.
Students enjoy a traditional Neuzeke (purple candy) or
a shot of Filliers jenever before exploring the sizzling
Ghent nightlife. Pensioners can have a beer in the ultramodern
Stadshal (nicknamed the Sheep Pen). One thing
all Ghent citizens have in common is the fact that they
take pride in their cultural heritage. This year, Ghent
invites everyone to celebrate its rich cultural history with
a number of events.
A little over 100 years ago, King Albert I and Queen
Elisabeth inaugurated the World Fair in Ghent. The
Exposition universelle et internationale de Gand
was one of the most spectacular world fairs to date.
Ghent’s many cultural institutions and organizations have
seized the hundredth anniversary of the Ghent world
exhibition to present a series of exhibitions in which
they highlight the significance of 1913 for society today.
Another birthday girl is the much-loved Vooruit: the
grand old lady of Ghent’s cultural scene is 100 this year.
During Vooruit100 (which runs until October 2013) the
building in the Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat opens its doors
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to everyone interested in Vooruit history. Activities
include the Cooperette, where you can repair clothes
and make new things, and the Think Bar, a place where
ideas, proposals, scenarios and projects are examined
and shared. During this anniversary year, the Vooruit
Café offers up some unique recipes from well-known
chefs, as well as a specially brewed beer, the Triomfbier.
Moreover, the Vooruit in Ghent app guides smartphone
users through Ghent’s city centre, hot on the trail of
creativity and transition, key words both of Vooruit,
and of Ghent. Finally, the STAM museum hosts an an
intriguing historical exhibition of the Vooruit building, its
significance for Ghent and the many activities that have
taken place during the past century.
The Film Festival Gent might be a long way off being
a centenarian, but its 40th edition, scheduled for October
8th-19th, 2013, merits a celebration nonetheless. The
festival was first established as a student film festival, and
has since developed into one of Europe’s most prominent
film events, attracting over 130,000 visitors each year.
Many international guests from the world of film flock
to Ghent to present their films to the general public. In
addition to the screenings, the Film Festival Gent also
organizes film-related exhibitions. What makes the Festival
truly unique, however, is its focus on film music: every
year, the festival organizes film music concerts, giving
composers of film scores the platform they deserve. An
annual highlight are the World Soundtrack Awards, the
most prestigious soundtrack awards in the world.
After exploring these events, and the many other
delights Ghent has to offer, it will be hard not to fall for
this exciting, picturesque city. This In Your Pocket guide
gladly takes you on a tour of the very best of Ghent.
Hungry for more? Check out additional information online
at www.inyourpocket.com/belgium. We welcome all of
your suggestions and comments: send them to ghent@
inyourpocket.com.
All that’s left is for us to wish you a fantastic time in
Ghent, which is, as they say in Ghent slang, ‘vree wijs’!
(‘very cool’)
Georgia
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