Where are you from? ‘
These four words, a seemingly simple question, have become the start of many long conversations around the world. From me giving a complete list of neighboring countries, trying to explain exactly where my little country is after I left Europe, instead of trying to explain why a 30.000 km2 country with only 11 million inhabitants on the planet needs three languages to convince people that, no, the fries are not from France ……
There’s a lot to say about my dear Belgium and I’m sure you’ll be surprised to hear that there’s so much to see and do. Curious?
If you came to Ghent 20 years ago as a tourist, you might have taken a wrong turn somewhere between Brussels and Bruges or gotten off the train at the wrong station. I don’t even remember going there as a kid until 10 to 15 years ago, when I met some people who lived there and we decided to take salsa lessons together and spend more time after salsa – than actually going to class, I really got to know it.
The first night out, I was blown away. How can a gem like this not generate more interest? How could this place not be swamped with tour buses and cameras? But I’m not complaining because you don’t say no to spending quality time with such a beautiful woman ……
Ghent, we may have met for the first time in the dark, but I knew from the start that it wouldn’t be an overnight affair …… As the second largest city in 13th century Northern Europe, Ghent has more protected buildings than any other Belgian city and a stroll through its streets is a history lesson in itself. I definitely recommend the boat tour too, to see it all from a different perspective.
But Ghent is more than just architecture. There are museums, art galleries, flea markets and little streets full of graffiti. Exhibitions, concerts and festivals. Amazing restaurants serving truly delicious, typical Belgian cuisine, and little hidden bars you can only stumble upon.
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A lot has obviously changed in the last 10 to 15 years. Ghent is now in the list of “10 best places to visit in Belgium”, after Brussels and Bruges, French fries, chocolate and beer. Tour buses and cameras have arrived. But that awesome local vibe from back in the day is still there. You’ll never feel like it’s been turned into a museum. People actually live here, and the city lives with them.
