View source for Ghent

{{Short description|Capital of East Flanders province, Belgium}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name            = Ghent
|native_name     = {{native name|nl|Gent}}
|namefr          = Gand
|type            = city
|picture         = {{multiple image
|perrow = 1/2/1
|border = infobox
|total_width = 280
|image1 = Gent, de Graslei vanaf de Korenlei met oeg24758tm61+25159 IMG 0447 2021-08-13 18.37.jpg
|caption1 = [[Graslei]]
|image2 = Gent Vrijdag 002.JPG
|caption2 = [[Vrijdagmarkt, Ghent|Vrijdagmarkt]]
|image3 = Gent Gravensteen R01.jpg
|caption3 = [[Gravensteen]]
|image4 = Sint-Niklaaskerk and the belfry of Ghent (DSCF0229).jpg
|caption4 = Ghent Tower Row ([[Saint Nicholas Church, Ghent|St. Nicholas' Church]], [[Belfry of Ghent|Belfry]] and [[Saint Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent|St. Bavo's Cathedral]])
}}
|map              = Gent East-Flanders Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = Ghent in the province of East Flanders
|arms             = Wapen van Gent.svg
|flag             = Vlag van Gent.svg
|province         = [[East Flanders]]
|arrondissement   = [[Arrondissement of Ghent|Ghent]]
|nis              = 44021
|mayor            = [[Mathias De Clercq]] ([[Open VLD]])
|list_of_mayors   = List of mayors of Ghent
|majority         = Voor Gent ([[Forward (Belgium)|Vooruit]], [[Flemish Liberals and Democrats|Open VLD]]) - [[Groen (political party)|Groen]]
|postal-codes     = 9000–9052
|telephone-area   = 09
|web              = [http://www.gent.be/ www.gent.be]
|coordinates      = {{coord|51|03|13|N|03|43|31|E|region:BE-VLG_type:city(260,300)|display=inline,title}}
|module           =
|footnotes        = [[File:Logo_of_Gent.svg|70px|center]]{{center|[[Logo]] of Ghent}}
}}

'''Ghent''' ({{langx|nl|Gent}} {{IPA|nl|ɣɛnt||nl-Gent.ogg}}; {{langx|fr|Gand}} {{IPA|fr|ɡɑ̃||LL-Q150 (fra)-Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick-Gand.wav}}; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a [[City status in Belgium|city]] and a [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] in the [[Flemish Region]] of [[Belgium]]. It is the capital and largest city of the [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] of [[East Flanders]], and the third largest in the country, after [[Brussels]] and [[Antwerp]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/feb/23/ghent-fine-art-medieval-belgium-holiday-city-break-beer |title=Medieval and magical, vibrant and edgy – the Belgian city is a sensory overload |date=23 February 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 March 2020 }}</ref> It is a [[Port of Ghent|port]] and [[Ghent University|university]] city.

The city originally started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers [[Scheldt]] and [[Leie]]. In the [[Late Middle Ages]] Ghent became one of the largest and richest cities of [[northern Europe]], with some 50,000 people in 1300. After the late 16th century Ghent became a less important city, resulting in an extremely well-preserved historic centre, making Ghent a popular tourist destination.

The municipality comprises the city of Ghent proper and the surrounding suburbs of [[Afsnee]], [[Desteldonk]], [[Drongen]], [[Gentbrugge]], [[Ledeberg]], [[Mariakerke, East Flanders|Mariakerke]], [[Mendonk]], [[Oostakker]], [[Sint-Amandsberg]], [[Sint-Denijs-Westrem]], [[Sint-Kruis-Winkel]], [[Wondelgem]] and [[Zwijnaarde]]. With 270,473 inhabitants at the end of 2024, Ghent is Belgium's second largest municipality by number of inhabitants. The [[metropolitan areas in Belgium|metropolitan area]], including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of {{convert|1205|km²|0|abbr=on}} and had a total population of 560,522 as of 1 January 2018, which ranks it as the fourth most populous in Belgium.<ref name="BelMun2008">[http://statbel.fgov.be/downloads/pop200801com.xls Statistics Belgium; ''Werkelijke bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2008'' ('''excel-file''')] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126165629/http://statbel.fgov.be/downloads/pop200801com.xls |date=26 January 2009 }} Population of all municipalities in Belgium, as of 1 January 2008. Retrieved on 19 October 2008.</ref><ref name="BelMetr">[http://www.statbel.fgov.be/pub/d0/p009n014_nl.pdf Statistics Belgium; ''De Belgische Stadsgewesten 2001'' ('''pdf-file''')] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029020131/http://www.statbel.fgov.be/pub/d0/p009n014_nl.pdf |date=29 October 2008 }} 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 19 October 2008.</ref> The current [[List of mayors of Ghent|mayor of Ghent]] is [[Mathias De Clercq]] ([[Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats|Open Vld]]).

The ten-day-long Ghent Festival (''[[Gentse Feesten]]'') is held every year and attended by about 1–1.5 million visitors.

==History==
{{For timeline}}
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2013}}

Archaeological evidence shows human presence around the confluence of the Scheldt and the Leie going back as far as the [[Stone Age]] and the [[Iron Age]].<ref name="gent.be-history">{{cite web
|title=History of Gent
|url=http://www.gent.be/gent/english/history/gesch01.htm
|access-date=5 May 2006
|publisher=gent.be
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050818043547/http://www.gent.be/gent/english/history/gesch01.htm
|archive-date=18 August 2005 }}</ref>

Most historians believe that the older name for Ghent, 'Ganda', is derived from the [[Celts|Celtic]] word ''ganda'', which means '[[confluence]]',<ref name="gent.be-history"/> or 'river mouth', referring to the [[Lys (river)|Leie]] river debouching into the [[Scheldt]]. Other sources connect its name with an obscure deity named [[Gontia (deity)|Gontia]].<ref>Adrian Room, [https://books.google.com/books?id=EdmNngEACAAJ ''Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6,600 Countries, Cities, Territories, Natural Features, and Historic Sites''], McFarland, 2006, p. 144.</ref>

There are no written records of the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] period, but archaeological research confirms that the Ghent area continued to be inhabited.

When the [[Franks]] 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]].

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Ghent hist centrum 2.jpg|left|thumb|Buildings along the river [[Leie]] in Ghent]]

Around 650, [[Saint Amand]] founded two [[abbey]]s in Ghent: [[St. Peter's Abbey, Ghent|St. Peter's]] ([[Blandijnberg|Blandinium]]) and [[Saint Bavo's Abbey|St. Bavo's Abbey]]. Around 800, [[Louis the Pious]], son of [[Charlemagne]], appointed [[Einhard]], 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]]s.

Under the protection of the [[County of Flanders]] the city recovered and flourished from the 11th century, growing to become a small [[city-state]]. By the 13th century, Ghent was the biggest city in Europe north of the Alps after [[Paris]]; it was bigger than [[Cologne]] or [[Moscow]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Nicholas|first=David|title=The Domestic Life of a Medieval City: Women, Children and the Family in Fourteenth Century Ghent|pages=1}}</ref> Up to 65,000 people lived within the city walls. The [[Belfry of Ghent|belfry]] and the towers of the [[St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent|St. Bavo's Cathedral]] and [[Saint Nicholas Church, Ghent|St. 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 word related to the English '[[marsh]]') were ideally suited for grazing sheep, the wool of which was used to make cloth. 

During the Middle Ages Ghent became the leading European city for the manufacture of [[cloth]].  Wool was imported from Scotland and England, although during the [[Hundred Years' War]] trade suffered significantly. 

Ghent was the birthplace of [[John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster|John of Gaunt]], Duke of [[Duchy of Lancaster|Lancaster]].

===Early modern period===
The city recovered in the 15th century when Flanders was united with neighbouring provinces under the [[Duchy of Burgundy|Dukes of Burgundy]]. High taxes [[Revolt of Ghent (1449–1453)|led to a rebellion]] and eventually to the [[Battle of Gavere]] in 1453, in which Ghent suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of [[Philip the Good]]. Around this time the centre of political and social importance in the [[Low Countries]] started to shift from Flanders (Bruges–Ghent) to [[Duchy of Brabant|Brabant]] ([[Antwerp]]–[[Brussels]]), although Ghent continued to play an important role. With Bruges, the city led two [[Flemish revolts against Maximilian of Austria|revolts against Maximilian of Austria]], the first monarch of the [[House of Habsburg]] to rule Flanders.
[[File:Lucas de Heere - View of the city of Ghent.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''View on the city of Ghent in 1540'' by [[Lucas de Heere]]]]
[[File:Joseph_working_02.gif|thumb|15th-century Ghent miniature of the Biblical [[Joseph]], showing daily life there]]
In 1500, [[Juana of Castile]] gave birth to [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], who became [[Holy Roman Emperor]] and King of [[Kingdom of Spain|Spain]]. Although native to Ghent, he punished the city after the 1539 [[Revolt of Ghent (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). St. Bavo's Abbey (not to be confused with the nearby St. Bavo's Cathedral) was abolished, torn down, and replaced with a fortress for [[Kingdom of Spain|Royal Spanish]] troops. Only a small portion of the abbey was spared demolition.

[[File:Engelbert Van Siclers - De Kouter in Ghent in 1763.jpg|250px|thumb|''De Kouter in Ghent in 1763'' by [[Engelbert van Siclers]]]]
[[File:Ghent, Ferraris Map, 1775.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|Ghent in 1775 on the [[Ferraris map]]]]

The late 16th and 17th centuries brought devastation because of the [[Eighty Years' War]]. The war ended the role of Ghent as a centre of international importance. In 1745, the city [[Fall of Ghent|was captured]] by French forces during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] before being returned to the [[Austria|Empire of Austria]] under the [[Habsburgs|House of Habsburg]] following the [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]] in 1748. This part of [[Flanders]] became known as the [[Austrian Netherlands]] until the exile of the French Emperor [[Napoleon Bonaparte|Napoleon I]], the end of the French Revolutionary and later [[Napoleonic Wars]], and the peace treaties arrived at by the [[Congress of Vienna]] in 1815.

===19th century===
[[File:Flickr - …trialsanderrors - Justitiepaleis, Ghent, Belgium, ca. 1895.jpg|left|thumb|The Palace of Justice in Ghent, {{circa|1895}}]]

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Ghent's textile industry flourished again. [[Lieven Bauwens]], having smuggled the [[Industrial Revolution|industrial]] and factory machine plans out of England, introduced the first mechanical [[Weaving machines|weaving machine]] on the [[European continent]] in 1800.

The [[Treaty of Ghent]], negotiated here and adopted on Christmas Eve 1814, formally ended the [[War of 1812]] between Great Britain and the United States (the North American phase of the Napoleonic Wars). After the [[Battle of Waterloo]], Ghent and [[Flanders]], previously ruled from the House of Habsburg in [[Vienna]] as the Austrian Netherlands, became a part of the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] with the northern Dutch for 15 years. In this period, Ghent established its own [[Ghent University|university]] (1816)<ref name="visit.gent.be">{{Cite web|url=https://visit.gent.be/en/good-know/practical-information/why-ghent/ghent-over-centuries|title=Ghent over the centuries &#124; Visit Gent|website=visit.gent.be}}</ref> and a [[Ghent–Terneuzen Canal|new connection to the sea]] (1824–27).

After the [[Belgian Revolution]], 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 [[Exposition universelle et internationale (1913)|world exhibition in Ghent]].<ref name="visit.gent.be"/> 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]] is described by H. Wandt in "etappenleven te Gent".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wandt |first=Heinrich |date=1921 |title=Etappenleven te Gent : kantteekeningen bij de Duitsche ineenstorting / |url=https://lib.ugent.be/catalog/rug01:000978952 |access-date=12 July 2022 |website=lib.ugent.be}}</ref> In [[World War II]] the city was liberated by the British [[7th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|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]].

==Geography==
[[File:GentMap.svg|upright=1.35|thumb|Municipalities]]
After the fusions of municipalities in 1965 and 1977, the city is made up of following [[Deelgemeente|sub-municipalities]]:
{{colbegin}}
*I Ghent
*II [[Mariakerke, East Flanders|Mariakerke]]
*III [[Drongen]]
*IV [[Wondelgem]]
*V [[Sint-Amandsberg]]
*VI [[Oostakker]]
*VII [[Desteldonk]]
*VIII [[Mendonk]]
*IX [[Sint-Kruis-Winkel]]
*X [[Ledeberg]]
*XI [[Gentbrugge]]
*XII [[Afsnee]]
*XIII [[Sint-Denijs-Westrem]]
*XIV [[Zwijnaarde]]
{{colend}}

===Neighbouring municipalities===
{{colbegin|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Wachtebeke]]
* [[Lochristi]]
* [[Destelbergen]]
* [[Melle, Belgium|Melle]]
* [[Merelbeke]]
* [[De Pinte]]
* [[Sint-Martens-Latem]]
* [[Deinze]]
* [[Lievegem]]
* [[Evergem]]
* [[Zelzate]]
{{colend}}

===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.<ref name="weatherbase">{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=13460&cityname=Gent%2C+East+Flanders%2C+Belgium&units= |title=Climate Summary for Ghent, Belgium |publisher=weatherbase.com|access-date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Ghent (1991–2020 normals)
|collapsed = 
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 
|Feb record high C = 
|Mar record high C = 
|Apr record high C = 
|May record high C = 
|Jun record high C = 
|Jul record high C = 
|Aug record high C = 
|Sep record high C = 
|Oct record high C = 
|Nov record high C = 
|Dec record high C = 
|year record high C = 
|Jan high C = 6.7
|Feb high C = 7.6
|Mar high C = 11.1
|Apr high C = 15.1
|May high C = 18.6
|Jun high C = 21.3
|Jul high C = 23.4
|Aug high C = 23.4
|Sep high C = 20.0
|Oct high C = 15.4
|Nov high C = 10.4
|Dec high C = 7.1
|year high C = 15.0
|Jan mean C = 3.9
|Feb mean C = 4.3
|Mar mean C = 7.0
|Apr mean C = 10.0
|May mean C = 13.6
|Jun mean C = 16.4
|Jul mean C = 18.4
|Aug mean C = 18.2
|Sep mean C = 15.1
|Oct mean C = 11.4
|Nov mean C = 7.4
|Dec mean C = 4.5
|year mean C = 10.9
|Jan low C = 1.1
|Feb low C = 1.1
|Mar low C = 2.8
|Apr low C = 4.8
|May low C = 8.6
|Jun low C = 11.5
|Jul low C = 13.4
|Aug low C = 13.0
|Sep low C = 10.2
|Oct low C = 7.4
|Nov low C = 4.3
|Dec low C = 1.8
|year low C = 6.7
|Jan record low C = 
|Feb record low C = 
|Mar record low C = 
|Apr record low C = 
|May record low C = 
|Jun record low C = 
|Jul record low C = 
|Aug record low C = 
|Sep record low C = 
|Oct record low C = 
|Nov record low C = 
|Dec record low C = 
|year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 72.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 61.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 56.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 46.2
|May precipitation mm = 62.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 72.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 81.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 90.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 75.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 74.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 88.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 93.4
|year precipitation mm = 875.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 12.7
|Feb precipitation days = 11.7
|Mar precipitation days = 10.6
|Apr precipitation days = 9.6
|May precipitation days = 10.0
|Jun precipitation days = 10.1
|Jul precipitation days = 10.5
|Aug precipitation days = 10.8
|Sep precipitation days = 10.5
|Oct precipitation days = 11.9
|Nov precipitation days = 13.7
|Dec precipitation days = 14.2
|year precipitation days = 136.5
|Jan sun = 65
|Feb sun = 82
|Mar sun = 139
|Apr sun = 191
|May sun = 219
|Jun sun = 217
|Jul sun = 224
|Aug sun = 210
|Sep sun = 164
|Oct sun = 121
|Nov sun = 71
|Dec sun = 55
|year sun = 1757
|source 1 = [[Royal Meteorological Institute]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.meteo.be/resources/climatology/climateCity/pdf/climate_INS44021_9120_nl.pdf
| title = Luchttemperatuur en neerslag Referentieperiode: 1991-2020
| language = nl
| publisher = [[Royal Meteorological Institute]]
| access-date = September 4, 2025}}
</ref>}}

==Demographics==
===Nationalities===
{{Bar box|bars={{bar percent|Belgian|#3BC4E9|64.5}} {{bar percent|Asian|#CE3D77|12.6}} {{bar percent|Eastern European|Orange|9.1}} {{bar percent|Other Western European|#33cc33|5.0}} {{bar percent|North African|Gold|3.4}} {{bar percent|Sub-Saharan African|yellow|3.3}} {{bar percent|Other|grey|1.8}}
{{bar percent|Total non-Belgian|#cc33ff|35.5}}|float=right|left1=|right 1=Percent (%)|title= Ethnic background (2020)}}
Ghent is home to many people of foreign origin and immigrants. The 2020 census<ref>{{cite web| url = https://gent.buurtmonitor.be| title = Jive}}</ref> 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).

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! rowspan="3" |Group of origin
! colspan="2" |Year
|-
! colspan="2" |2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=Origin {{!}} Statbel |url=https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/population/structure-population/origin#documents |access-date=2 July 2023 |website=statbel.fgov.be}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|-
!Belgians with Belgian background
|165,164
!61.6%
|-
!Belgians with foreign background
|56,990
!21.26%
|-
|Neighboring country
|5,523
|2.06%
|-
|EU27 (excluding neighboring country)
|5,354
|2%
|-
|Outside EU 27
|46,113
|17.2%
|-
!Non-Belgians
|45,968
!17.14%
|-
|Neighboring country
|4,691
|1.75%
|-
|EU27 (excluding neighboring country)
|20,355
|7.59%
|-
|Outside EU 27
|20,922
|7.8%
|-
|
|
|
|-
!Total
|'''268,122'''
!100%
|}

== Politics ==
The composition of the 2025 – 2031 city council:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" |party
!seats
|-
| style="background-color:#E6007F; width:0.3em;"|
||Voor Gent*||'''19'''
|-
|{{party color cell|Groen (political party)}}|| [[Groen (political party)|Groen]]||'''14'''
|-
|{{party color cell|New Flemish Alliance}}||[[New Flemish Alliance|N-VA]]||'''10'''
|-
|{{party color cell|Christian Democratic and Flemish}}||[[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]]||'''4'''
|-
|{{party color cell|Workers' Party of Belgium}}||[[Workers' Party of Belgium|PVDA]]||'''3'''
|-
|{{party color cell|Vlaams Belang}}||[[Vlaams Belang]]||'''3'''
|-
|}

''*The party 'Voor Gent' is a local coalition party of [[Vooruit (political party)|Vooruit]] and [[Open VLD]]''

==Culture and tourism ==
===Architecture===
[[File:Belfry of Ghent (DSCF0247,DSCF0249).jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Belfry of Ghent]], a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]]]
[[File:Gent, de Graslei6 foto1 2010-10-10 15.30.JPG|thumb|The [[Graslei]], in the old city centre]]
[[File:NTG 24-06-2008 11-42-13.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[Royal Dutch Theatre (Ghent)|Royal Dutch Theatre]]]]
[[File:Gent Gravensteen R01.jpg|thumb|The [[Gravensteen castle|Gravensteen]]]]
[[File:Gent, de Sint-Niklaaskerk oeg25149, en op de achtergrond het Belfort oeg24555 en de Sint-Baafskathedraal oeg25743 IMG 0814 2021-08-15 16.54.jpg|thumb|Historical centre of Ghent – from left to right: Old post office, [[Saint Nicholas Church, Ghent|St. Nicholas' Church]], [[Belfry of Ghent|Belfry]], and [[St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent|St. Bavo's Cathedral]]]]
[[File:Sunset over a canal in Ghent, Belgium.jpg|thumb|Sunset over the river [[Leie]] in Ghent]]

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 [[St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent|St. Bavo's Cathedral]] 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 [[béguinage]]s and numerous churches including St. Jacob's Church, [[Saint Nicholas Church, Ghent|St. Nicholas' Church]], [[Saint Michael's Church, Ghent|St. Michael's Church]] and [[St. Stefanus, Ghent|St. Stefanus' Church]].
[[File:Lamgods open.jpg|thumb|The well-known ''[[Ghent Altarpiece]]'', a 15th-century painting by Hubert and Jan Van Eyck in [[St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent|St. Bavo's Cathedral]].]]
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.

===Theatre===
[[NTGent]] is the city theatre of Ghent, a public institution known for its radical productions. The theatre company's home base is in the {{ill|Royal Dutch Theatre|nl| Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg (Gent)}} (Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg, or KNS), with a secondary location in the city at Minnemeers. The company also tours extensively.<ref name=hist>{{cite web | title=History | website=NTGent | date=28 March 2023 | url=https://www.ntgent.be/en/wie-zijn-we/geschiedenis | access-date=17 March 2024 | archive-date=18 March 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318010947/https://www.ntgent.be/en/wie-zijn-we/geschiedenis | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Restaurants and culinary traditions===
In Ghent and other regions of [[East Flanders]], 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 [[cuberdon]]s or 'neuzekes' ('noses'), cone-shaped purple jelly-filled candies (a four-year feud between two local vendors made international news),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/belgium/articles/a-tale-of-two-cuberdon-vendors-the-story-behind-ghents-little-nose-war/|title=A Tale of Two Cuberdon Vendors: The Story Behind Ghent's 'Little Nose War'|first=Nana|last=Van De Poel|date=22 July 2017|access-date=22 December 2018|archive-date=26 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726135310/https://theculturetrip.com/europe/belgium/articles/a-tale-of-two-cuberdon-vendors-the-story-behind-ghents-little-nose-war/|url-status=dead}}</ref> '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''<ref>[http://www.vegetarisme.be/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=767 "Ghent's veggie day: for English speaking visitors"] on Vegetarisme.be</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8046970.stm "Belgian city plans 'veggie' days"] on [[BBC News]] (12 May 2009).</ref> 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]].

Ghent has the world's largest number of vegetarian restaurants per capita.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Jane |date=2013-09-23 |title=The best countries in the world for vegetarians |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/sep/23/best-countries-to-be-vegetarian |access-date=2025-10-23 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Festivals and other events===
The city is host to some big cultural events such as the [[Gentse Feesten|Ghent Festival]], the [[Flanders International Film Festival Ghent|International Film Festival of Ghent]] (with the [[World Soundtrack Awards]]) and the {{Interlanguage link|Gent Festival van Vlaanderen|nl}}. Also, every five years, an extensive botanical exhibition (''Gentse Floraliën'') takes place in [[Flanders Expo]] in Ghent, attracting numerous visitors to the city.

The Ghent Festival (''Gentse Feesten'' in Dutch) is an annual festival that lasts for ten days. It has been held for more than 50 years (since 1969) and is attended by about 1–1.5 million visitors. It did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium]], being held again in the summer of 2022, after a two-year break.

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.

Ghent co-hosted the 2021 [[World Choir Games]] together with [[Antwerp]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.interkultur.com/newsroom/choir-games/details/news/world-choir-games-kick-off-in-flanders/|title=World Choir Games kick off in Flanders|website=INTERKULTUR|date=15 September 2021 |access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref> Organised by the [[Interkultur Foundation]], the World Choir Games is the biggest choral competition and festival in the world.

Ghent has been chosen as the 2024 [[European Youth Capital]] by the [[European Youth Forum]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Verstichel |first1=Mathieu |title=Gent is Europese Jongerenhoofdstad in 2024: "Een volledig jaar focus op de jeugd" |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2021/11/19/gent-wordt-europese-jongerenhoofdstad-voor-een-jaar/ |access-date=15 March 2023 |work=VRT |date=19 November 2021 |language=Dutch}}</ref>

===Parks===
The numerous parks in the city can also be considered tourist attractions. Most notably, Ghent boasts a [[nature reserve]] ([[Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen]], {{convert|230|ha|acre|abbr=off}}<ref name="nature reserve">{{cite web|url=http://www.visitgent.be/en/natuur-en-milieucentrum-de-bourgoyen |title=Nature Domain De Bourgoyen &#124; Visit Gent |publisher=visitgent.be|access-date=18 May 2015}}</ref>) and a recreation park (Blaarmeersen, 87 hectares; 215 acres).<ref name="inyourpocket">{{cite web|url=http://www.inyourpocket.com/Belgium/Ghent/Sightseeing/Parks-and-Gardens/Blaarmeersen-Sport-and-Recreation-Park_102502v |title=Blaarmeersen Sport and Recreation Park – Sightseeing in Ghent |website=inyourpocket.com |access-date=18 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520042928/http://www.inyourpocket.com/Belgium/Ghent/Sightseeing/Parks-and-Gardens/Blaarmeersen-Sport-and-Recreation-Park_102502v |archive-date=20 May 2015}}</ref>

==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]], [[Yamaha Motor]] and [[Stora Enso]].

[[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 four large hospitals, numerous 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 August 2020 |title=Ghent – Eurocities |url=https://eurocities.eu/cities/ghent/ |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=eurocities.eu |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Transport ==
As one of the largest cities in Belgium, Ghent has a highly developed transport system.

===Road===
[[File:R4 gezien vanuit de Beekstraat - Gent.jpg|thumb|The R4 ringroad]]
By car the city is accessible via two motorways:
*The [[European route E40|E40]] connects Ghent with [[Bruges]] and [[Ostend]] to the west, and with [[Brussels]], [[Leuven]] and [[Liège]] to the east.
*The [[European route E17|E17]] connects Ghent with [[Sint-Niklaas]] and [[Antwerp]] 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===
[[File:Sint-Pietersstation.jpg|thumb|[[Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station]], Ghent]]
Five [[railway station]]s can be found in the municipality of Ghent:
*[[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 railway station|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]] with connections to [[Bruges]] 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====
[[File:HermeLijn Korenmarkt.JPG|thumb|A HermeLijn [[low-floor tram]] in Ghent]]
{{main|Trams in Ghent}}

Since 6/01/2024, the network contains 4 lines:

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Line !! Route
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#FFD700; color:white; font-size:150%;" | '''T1'''
| [[Flanders Expo]]&nbsp;– [[Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station]]&nbsp;– Kouter&nbsp;– Zuid&nbsp;– Gentbrugge Stelplaats
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#008000; color:white; font-size:150%;" | '''T2'''
| [[Evergem]];– Wondelgem&nbsp;– Korenmarkt&nbsp;– Zuid&nbsp;– [[Melle, Belgium|Melle]] Leeuw
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#38C6BD; color:white; font-size:150%;" | '''T3'''
| [[Zwijnaarde]] Bibliotheek&nbsp;– Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station&nbsp;– Kouter&nbsp;– Zuid&nbsp;– Moscou
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#FF0000; color:white; font-size:150%;" | '''T4'''
| [[Ghent University|Gent UZ]]&nbsp;– Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station&nbsp;– Rabot&nbsp;– Muide&nbsp;– [[Lange Steenstraat]]
|}

Before 6/01/2024, the network contained 3 lines:

*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<ref>https://static.delijn.be/Images/LCD%20LW%20einde%20Bravoko_tcm3-16462.jpg{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>)
*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]] (fused into line 2)

====Buses====

Since 6/01/2024, the city bus network contains 11 lines:

*Line 5a:	Nieuw Gent – Heuvelpoort - Zuid - Sint-Jacobs - Van Beverenplein - [[Wondelgem]] Station
*Line 5b:	Nieuw Gent – Heuvelpoort - Zuid - Sint-Jacobs - Meulestede (''- [[Wondelgem]] Station, not serviced until 2026 due to road works'')
*Line 6:	P+R Muide – Sint-Jacobs - Zuid
*Line 9a:	[[Gentbrugge]] – [[Ledeberg]] - [[Sint-Pieters railway station]] - [[Malem, Ghent|Malem]] - [[Mariakerke, East Flanders|Mariakerke]] (Kolegem) - [[Wondelgem]] Station
*Line 9b:	[[Gentbrugge]] – [[Ledeberg]] - [[Sint-Pieters railway station]] - [[Malem, Ghent|Malem]] - [[Mariakerke, East Flanders|Mariakerke]] (Center) - [[Wondelgem]] Station
*Line 10:	[[Mariakerke, East Flanders|Mariakerke]] – [[Korenmarkt, Ghent|Korenmarkt]] - Sint-Jacobs - [[Dampoort, Ghent|Dampoort]] - Snellaertplein
*Line 11:	[[Gentbrugge]] - [[Dampoort, Ghent|Dampoort]] - Sint-Jacobs - [[Korenmarkt, Ghent|Korenmarkt]] - Blaarmeersen
*Line 12a:	Achtendries - [[Dampoort, Ghent|Dampoort]] - Sint-Jacobs - [[Korenmarkt, Ghent|Korenmarkt]] - [[Drongen]] - Leerne
*Line 12b:	[[Oostakker]] – [[Dampoort, Ghent|Dampoort]] - Sint-Jacobs - [[Korenmarkt, Ghent|Korenmarkt]] - [[Drongen]] Varendries
*Line 16:	Zuid - Sint-Baafskouter
*Line 19:	[[Arteveldestadion]] – [[Sint-Pieters railway station]] - Blaarmeersen

Before 6/01/2024, the city bus network contained 9 lines:
[[File:Van Hool articulated.JPG|thumb|A [[Van Hool]] [[articulated bus]] in Ghent]]
*Line 3: [[Mariakerke (East Flanders)|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]]
*Line 38/39: Blaarmeersen – Ekkergem – Korenmarkt (city centre) – Dampoort – [[Sint-Amandsberg]]

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 {{convert|400|km}} 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.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghent's history and future with cycling |url=https://ecf.com/news-and-events/news/ghents-history-and-future-cycling |website=ECF |language=en |date=29 August 2022}}</ref><ref>Youtube: Streetfilms, 2 January 2020: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEOA_Tcq2XA The Innovative Way Ghent, Belgium Removed Cars From The City]</ref>

More cyclists means a higher demand for [[bicycle parking station]]s. In 2010, the plans to renovate Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station included 10,000 bicycle parking spots.<ref>In Dutch: Project Gent Sint-Pieters, nieuwsbericht 9 November 2016:[http://www.projectgentsintpieters.be/archief/nieuwsberichten/detail/2000-bijkomende-fietsenstallingen 2000 bijkomende fietsenstallingen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128025320/https://www.projectgentsintpieters.be/archief/nieuwsberichten/detail/2000-bijkomende-fietsenstallingen |date=28 January 2020 }}</ref> 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.<ref>In Dutch: Project Gent Sint-Pieters: Voorstelling project, Stationsproject: [http://www.projectgentsintpieters.be/voorstelling-project/stationsproject/fiets Fiets], site bezocht op 28 January 2020</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:Ghelamcoarena05.jpg|thumb|[[Planet Group Arena]]]]
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=197008/matches/match=32276/report.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201211636/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament%3D512/edition%3D197008/matches/match%3D32276/report.html|url-status=dead|title=FIFA Confederations Cup – Olympic Football Tournament Antwerp 1920 |website=fifa.com|archive-date=1 February 2009}}</ref>

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 {{Lang|nl|[[Omloop Het Nieuwsblad]]|italic=no}}, the traditional opening race of the [[cobbled classics]] season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/home/article/26869 |title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad race guide |website=[[Team Sky]] |access-date=21 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111901/http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/home/article/26869 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It also lends its name to another cobbled classic, [[Gent–Wevelgem]], although the race now starts in the nearby city of [[Deinze]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/03/news/road/storied-ghent-wevelgem-poised-for-a-brutal-edition_278748 |title=Storied Ghent-Wevelgem poised for a brutal edition |last1=Beaudin |first1=Matthew |date=23 March 2013 |website=[[VeloNews]] |access-date=22 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041857/http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/03/news/road/storied-ghent-wevelgem-poised-for-a-brutal-edition_278748 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|title=World records|url=http://www.iaaf.org/records/by-category/world-records#results-tab-sub-men=1|website=iaaf.org|access-date=8 June 2015}}</ref>

The Flanders Sports Arena was host to the 2015 [[Davis Cup]] Final between [[Belgium Davis Cup Team|Belgium]] and [[British Davis Cup Team|Great Britain]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghent to host 2015 Davis Cup Final|url=http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/215021.aspx|website=daviscup.com|date=23 September 2015|access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

==Notable people==
[[File:Geertgen Sint-Bavo.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Saint Bavo]], patron saint of Ghent]] [[File:Titian - Portrait of Charles V Seated - WGA22964.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Charles V]] was born in Ghent in 1500]]
[[File:Johnofgaunt.jpg|thumb|180px|[[John of Gaunt]], born in Ghent in 1340]]

[[File:JacobVAGent.JPG|thumb|180px|Statue of [[Jacob van Artevelde]] on the [[Vrijdagmarkt, Ghent|Vrijdagmarkt]]]]
{{See also|List of people from Ghent}}
* [[Frans Ackerman]] ({{Circa|1330}}–1387), Flemish statesmen and military leader.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Ackerman, Francis |volume= 1| page= 148 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Charlotte Adigéry]] (born {{Circa|1995}}), Belgian-Caribbean musician
* [[Alexander Agricola]] ({{Circa|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]] ({{Circa|1505}}–1562), composer, music director for the chapel of Charles V
* [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]] (1500–1558), ''Karel V, Charles Quint''.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Charles V. (Roman Emperor) |volume= 5|last= Armstrong |first= Edward |author-link= Edward Armstrong (historian) | pages = 899–905 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[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]] (1850–1898), painter
* [[Paul de Vigne]] (1843–1901), sculptor.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Vigne, Paul de |volume= 28 | page= 61 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[De Vriendt brothers]] Juliaan Joseph (1842–1935), & Albrecht François Lieven (1843–1900), painters.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Vriendt, Juliaen Joseph de and Albrecht François Lieven de |volume= 28 | page= 220 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Charlotte de Witte]] (born 1992), DJ and record producer
* [[Joseph Guislain]] (1797–1860), physician
* [[Daniel Heinsius]] (1580–1655), scholar of the Dutch [[Renaissance]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Heinsius Daniel |volume= 13 | page= 215 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Henry of Ghent]] (ca.1217–1293), [[Scholasticism|scholastic]] philosopher.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Henry of Ghent |volume= 13 | page = 298 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[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.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Lancaster, John of Gaunt, duke of |volume= 16 |last= Kingsford |first= Charles Lethbridge |author-link= Charles Lethbridge Kingsford | pages = 146–147 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[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]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Louis XVIII. of France |volume= 17 |last= Phillips |first= Catherine Beatrice   | pages = 47–49 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Pierre Louÿs]] (1870–1925), poet and romantic writer
* [[Maurice Maeterlinck]] (1862–1949), poet & playwright, won the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Maeterlinck, Maurice |volume= 17 |last= Gosse |first= Edmund William |author-link= Edmund William Gosse| pages = 298–299 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[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.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Quetelet, Lambert Adolphe Jacques |volume= 22 | page= 744 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[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.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Artevelde, Jacob van |volume= 2 | page= 669 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Gustave Van de Woestijne]] (1881–1947), painter
* [[Karel van de Woestijne]] (1878–1929), writer
* [[Hugo van der Goes]] ({{Circa|1440}}–1482), painter.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Goes, Hugo van der |volume= 12 | page = 181 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Jan van Eyck]] ({{Circa|1385}}–1441), painter.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Eyck, Van |volume= 10 |last= Crowe |first= Joseph Archer |author-link= Joseph Archer Crowe | pages = 90–91; see page 90, para 4 |quote=2. John (Jan) van Eyck (? 1385–1440). |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Geo Verbanck]] (1881–1961), sculptor
*[[Seppe Gebruers]] (born 1990), the first quartertone jazzpianist.
* [[Swen Vincke]] (born 1972), video game director and the head of [[Larian Studios]].
* [[Jan Frans Willems]] (1793–1846), writer.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Willems, Jean François |volume= 28 | page = 658 |short= 1}}</ref>
[[File:14-01-10-tbh-263-jacques-rogge.jpg|thumb|140px|Jacques Rogge, 2014]]

=== Sport ===
* [[Tiesj Benoot]] (born 1994), cyclist
* [[Kevin De Bruyne]] (born 1991), professional footballer for [[SSC Napoli]]
* [[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==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Belgium}}

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Ghent was, up until 2021, [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with 7 different cities ([[Saint-Raphaël, Var|Saint-Raphaël]] in France, [[Wiesbaden]] and [[Melle, Germany|Melle]] in Germany, [[Kanazawa, Ishikawa|Kanazawa]] in Japan, [[Tallinn]] in Estonia, [[Mohammedia]] in Morocco and [[Nottingham]] in the United Kingdom), but decided to end its twinning with all of them with the exception of Kanazawa. <ref name="Ghent twinnings">{{cite web|url=https://stad.gent/en/city-governance-organisation/city-policy/ghent-international/bilateral-multilateral-cooperation/twin-cities|title=Twin cities|access-date=18 October 2025|work=Stad Gent|publisher=City of Ghent}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Gent-Sint-Baafskathedraal vom Belfried aus gesehen.jpg|[[St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent|St. Bavo's Cathedral]]
File:BelfortGent.jpg|[[Belfry of Ghent|Belfry]]
File:Saint Nicholas Church, Ghent, Belgium.jpg|[[Saint Nicholas Church, Ghent|St. Nicholas Church]]
File:Oud Postkantoor, Ghent (DSCF0257-DSCF0261).jpg|Old Post Office on the [[Korenmarkt, Ghent|Korenmarkt]]
File:Graslei gent avondlicht.jpg|[[Graslei]]
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:Rabot 14.JPG|Rabot Gate
File:Jacob van Artevelde 2015.jpg|Vrijdagmarkt 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|Geeraard de Duivelsteen
File:Vooruitvoorgevel.JPG|[[Vooruit|Vooruit Arts Center]]
File:Gent - Hotel d'Hane-Steenhuyse 11-9-2016 11-18-09.jpg|[[Hotel d'Hane-Steenhuyse]]
File:Sint-Baafsabdij 6.jpg|Ruins of [[Saint Bavo's Abbey|St. Bavo's Abbey]]
File:Cuberdon - De echte Gentse neuzen.jpg|[[Cuberdon]]: A popular local delicacy
File:Dulle Griet, Ghent, Belgium.jpg|[[Dulle Griet]], a notable medieval bombard
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of Mayors of Ghent]]
* [[Port of Ghent]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{See also|Timeline of Ghent#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Ghent}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}

* {{Official website}} {{in lang|nl}}
* [http://www.visitgent.be Official Tourist website] {{in lang|nl|en|fr|de|es}}
* [http://www.visitflanders.com/ Flanders Tourism Website] {{in lang|nl|fr|de|es|sv|da|it|cs|ja|zh}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Ghent
|North     = [[Evergem]], [[Zelzate]]
|Northeast = [[Wachtebeke]]
|East      = [[Lochristi]]<br>[[Destelbergen]]
|Southeast = [[Melle, Belgium|Melle]]
|South     = [[Sint-Martens-Latem]], [[De Pinte]], [[Merelbeke]]
|Southwest = [[Deinze]]
|West      = [[Nevele]]
|Northwest = [[Lovendegem]]
}}
{{Populated places in Ghent}}
{{Municipalities in East Flanders}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ghent| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:Municipalities of East Flanders]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Belgium]]
[[Category:Provincial capitals of Flanders]]