Ghent In Your Pocket by In Your Pocket

Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps

Ghent

“In Your Pocket: A cheeky, wellwritten series of guidebooks.” The New York Times

July 2013 - January 2014

Music to your ears

Welcome to Ghent: UNESCO City of Music. From the Gentse Feesten to Vooruit 100 and Parkkaffee, there’s a concert this year for everyone

Food

Discover why Ghent is Belgium’s top culinary destination. Isn‘t life simply njummie? N°3 - € 2.50 www.inyourpocket.com

Bubble Post, for all your local deliveries, visibility and events. for more information: www.bubblepost.be or mail to hello@bubblepost.be

Contents

E S S E N T I A L C I TY G U I D E S

Contents Arrival & Transport

How to get to your hotel

The Basics

Getting to grips with Ghent

History

The city’s past on two pages

Culture & Events

Concerts, galleries and events

Where to stay

20 Beds for backpackers and business executives

Dining & Nightlife

From light drinking to heavy eating Cafés Classic cafés and bakeries

Nightlife 35 Plunge into one of Ghent’s bars: loungy, hip, dark: a bar to everyone’s taste.

Sightseeing Museums, churches and other sights

Vooruit, photo by Anke Sanders

List of small features Great Bradley Wiggins

Noosebearers

Ghent, UNESCO City of Music

Parkkaffee

Ghent’s Culinary Prodigies: The Flemish Foodies and Beyond

Het Lam Gods

Shopping

For the ultimate gift & souvenirs

Directory

Pharmacies, banks and barbers

Maps & Index Country map

Street index

City centre map City map Lys, photo by Anke Sanders

ghent.inyourpocket.com

Index

55 56-57 58 July 2013 - January 2014

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

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’)

Europe In Your Pocket Northern Ireland

Estonia

Ireland

Russia

Latvia Lithuania Belarus

Netherlands Poland Germany Belgium Czech Republic

Ukraine

Austria Switzerland Slovenia Romania Croatia Italy Bosnia Serbia Bulgaria Montenegro Kosovo Albania

FYR Macedonia

Greece

Ghent In Your Pocket

Georgia

It’s now 21 years since we published the first In Your Pocket guide - to Vilnius in Lithuania - in which time we have grown to become the largest publisher of locally produced city guides in Europe. We now cover more than 75 cities across the continent (with Tbilisi, in Georgia, the latest city to be pocketed) and the number of concise, witty, well-written and downright indispensable In Your Pocket guides published each year is approaching five million. We also publish an iPhone app, including more than 40 guides, which can be downloaded for free from the AppStore. Search for ‘IYP Guides’ by name. To keep up to date with all that’s new at In Your Pocket, like us on Facebook ( faceb ook.com/ inyourpocket) or follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/inyourpocket).

ghent.inyourpocket.com

arrival & Transport Publisher Ghent In Your Pocket Lariksenstraat 12. B-1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel. (+32) 473 51 30 02, ghent@inyourpocket.com, www.inyourpocket.com ISSN 2034-8975 © BIYP SPRL/BVBA Printed by PAPERLAND S.A. Published twice per year, 20 000 copies annualy Editorial Editors Sofie Steen, Craig Turp Contributors Astrid Vandendaele, Kristel Vereecken, Jean Jacques Haus Design Vaida Gudynaite Photography Reine Ortiz, Anke Sanders, Visit-Gent Cover Visit-Gent Sales & Circulation General Manager Reine Ortiz Sales Reine Ortiz, Sofie Steen Circulation Reine Ortiz, Bubble Post Copyright notice Text and photos copyright BIYP SPRL/BVBA 2013. Maps copyright cartographer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, except brief extracts for the purpose of review, without written permission from the publisher and copyright owner. The brand name In Your Pocket is used under license from UAB In Your Pocket (Bernardinų 9-4, Vilnius, Lithuania tel. (+370) 5 212 29 76). Maps AQUATERRA N.V. Ghent is easily explored on foot with most of the sights located within the relatively small city centre. Riding a bicycle around the city is not a bad idea either. The flat terrain and the generally short distances make cycling a lovely way to discover town. That being said, Ghent also has a well organised public transport system, reaching nearly every corner of the city. All trams and buses in Flanders are operated by the transport company De Lijn. You can find a route planner, schedules and network maps at the company’s website, www.delijn.be, or at a Lijnwinkel or Ghent Tourist Office. Tickets can be bought either directly from the driver inside buses and trams, at a Lijnwinkel or in most supermarkets and newspaper shops. Lijnwinkels are located at Sint-Pieters station, Gent-Zuid (Graaf van Vlaanderenplein) and at Korenmarkt. A single ticket costs €2 if bought from the driver or €1.20 if bought in advance. If you plan to use city transport regularly, you could buy a Lijnkaart for €9, which allows you to make 10 single journeys. You could also choose to get a day pass for €5 (€7 if purchased from the driver) or a 3-day pass for €10 (€12 from driver). Tickets always need to be validated by using the yellow machine inside trams and buses. Stick the ticket in the machine and press the number of zones you are travelling though. Unless you are travelling outside the city limits, this will be just one zone.

ghent.inyourpocket.com

By car Driving to the centre of Ghent can be a difficult task and be quite costly. There are four different zones, and they are split into two different sections. You have the choice of Kort Parkeren (shortterm parking, maximum three hours) and Dagparkeren (24 hours). Parking costs vary, from €2 an hour in the centre of the city up to €10 for a full day. Remember, however, that it’s hard to find a parking spot in or near the Old Town. Don’t park without paying unless you fancy a huge fine. If you’re coming from out of town, free parking at one of the six Park and Ride locations is your best option. The only damage is €2 for a tram ticket to town (or €1.20 if you buy it in advance). There are Park & Ride facilities at: P+R Gentbrugge (250 parking places) P+R Oostakker (200 parking places) P+R Flanders Expo (106 parking places) P+R Wondelgem Industrieweg (48 parking places) P+R Mariakerke (25 parking places) P+R Gentbrugge Moscou (15 parking places) If you’re still determined to drive into the Old Town then look for a parking garage. There are nine parking garages in Ghent. Rates vary, but you will pay around €1,50 an hour. You can find them easily by following the electronic signs on the billboards when you enter the city from whatever direction: the signs will also tell you how many free spaces are available. Further details of parking garages in town can be found here: www.parkeerbedrijf.gent.be.

Tourist information Beautiful cities always have a tourist office and Ghent is no exception. For information about the city, head to Ghent Tourist Office. If you want to know something about the surrounding region, step inside the office of Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen.

Ghent Tourist Office B-2, Sint-Veerleplein 5, tel.

(+32) 926 65 660, fax (+32) 926 65 673, visit@ gent.be, www.visitgent.be. To find the city’s tourist information office, walk through the gate in the corner of the square and you will spot it directly on the left. A large selection of brochures, leaflets and city maps is available, including maps with thematic walking routes and a brochure specifically for vegetarian visitors. Try the futuristic touch-screen tables, which will provide visitors with lots of information about the city and ideas for places to visit. If you still have questions, the knowledgeable staff will enthusiastically answer them. The tourist information office is also the departure point for guided walks in the city. QOpen 15/10 > 14/03: 09:30 - 16:30/ 15/03 > 14/10 : 09.30-18.30. TJAUGW

Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen B - 3, Sint- Niklaasstraat 2, tel. (+32) 926 92 600, fax (+32) 926 92 609, toerisme@oost-vlaanderen.be, www.tov. be. If you plan to explore the region around Ghent, the provincial tourist information office is a good place to start. This office is particularly well equipped with cycling and hiking maps, which you can buy for a small fee. You can also pick up brochures about various regions in East Flanders and the helpful staff will gladly advise you about journeys into the rural area around the city. QOpen 09:00 - 12:00 & 13:15-16:45. Closed Sat, Sun. J July 2013 - January 2014

arrival & Transport By plane Ghent does not have its own airport, but getting to the city from Belgium’s major airports is quite straightforward. The country’s largest flight hub, Brussels Airport (Zaventem), is about an hour away from Ghent. Those taking budget carriers like Ryanair and Wizz to Belgium will land at Brussels Charleroi Airport, 50km outside of Brussels proper. Antwerp Airport only handles a few charter flights, but if you happen to arrive here, take bus 14 to Antwerp Central station and hop on a train there. The trip to Ghent will take about 1.5 hours. Flights to Ostend-Bruges Airport are also limited to a few charters. From here, bus 5 and 6 run to Ostend railway station, from where trains to Ghent are leaving three times an hour.

By train Ghent has two railway stations: Sint-Pieters and Dampoort. Most trains arrive at Ghent Sint-Pieters (A-6). A tunnel connects the twelve platforms with the central hall. Entering the central hall from the tunnel, the ticket office (open 05:45 - 22:00, Sat and Sun 06:00 - 22:00) is located on the left side. There are three ATMs in the central hall, several kiosks, some coffee shops and a photo booth. The toilets are located on the path towards the western exit and these cost €0.50. You can change currency at the Europa Bank (open 09:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 17:00, Thu 09:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 18:30, closed Sat, Sun), which is also located towards the western exit. Lockers for luggage storage are opposite the bank. A small locker costs €3.00, a medium one €3.50 and a large locker €4.00, all for a 24 hour period. If have such a large suitcase there is also a manual luggage storage. For €4.00, the man behind the counter in the lost and found office (open 06:15 - 21:30) will happily take care of your belongings. This is also for a 24 hour period and you can find the lost and found opposite the ticket office. Getting to town: From Sint-Pieters station, tram 1 is the quickest option to the centre. When you exit the station, the tram stop is on the left side. Wait at platform 2 and hop on a tram directed at Evergem. You could buy tickets for buses and trams from the driver, these cost €2. If you buy a ticket in advance, it costs €1.20. In case you prefer taking a taxi, both railway stations have a row of taxis lined up in front of the station entrances. Ghent-Dampoort station (D-2): All trains coming from and going to Antwerp stop at Dampoort. This small station is closer to the city centre and usually more convenient if you are travelling to or from Antwerp. The ticket office (open 05:45 - 20:00, Sat and Sun 06:00 - 20:30) is located inside the waiting room, where you will also find lockers for luggage storage. Beware that the waiting room closes at 20:30 and you cannot get access to the lockers after that time. Just outside the main entrance is an ATM. After 22:00 you have to enter the station through the side entrance next to the parking area. Getting to town: The walk from Dampoort station to the city centre takes about 15 minutes, but you could also take bus 3, 38 or 39. These buses all leave from platform 1 on the opposite side of the road next to the railway bridge.

Ghent In Your Pocket

Waiting for the boats on Korenlei, photo by Reine Ortiz

Brussels Airport Leopoldlaan, Zaventem, tel. (+32)

275 37 753, www.brusselsairport.be. Next to a village called Zaventem, 12 kilometres from central Brussels, lies Belgium’s prime international airport. Taking a taxi to central Brussels will cost about €45. A cheaper option is to make the 15 minute train ride to Brussels Central station, from where you can change trains to nearly every corner of the country. The railway station at the airport is at level -1. There are two direct trains leaving Brussels Airport for Ghent: the IR-train (final destination De Panne) is the quickest and takes 55 minutes to complete the journey to Ghent. The other direct train, (final destination Ghent Sint-Pieters) is much slower due to the many stops on the way. You can also take any train from the airport to Brussels North railway station and change there. A ticket from Brussels Airport to Ghent costs €11.80. GW Brussels Charleroi Airport rue des Frères Wright 8, Charleroi, tel. (+32) 902 02 490, www.charleroiairpor t.com. After collecting your lug gage you have essentially two options for travel to Ghent: take a shuttle bus to Brussels Midi and catch a train to Ghent Sint Pieters from there, or take bus A to Charleroi railway station. The Brussels City Shuttle can be found directly outside the terminal, leaves every 30 minutes and the €13 ticket can be purchased online in advance, from the driver, or via one of the streetside vending machines. Those opting for Charleroi’s train station will have to change trains at Brussels Midi.

Buses Although Ghent lacks a central bus station, nearly every part of the city can be reached by bus. Most towns in the surrounding area are connected to Ghent by bus as well. The main hubs in the city’s bus network are at Zuid (Graaf van Vlaanderenplein), Sint-Pieters station and Dampoort station. Regular buses run from 06:00 until 23:00.

ghent.inyourpocket.com

arrival & Transport Eurolines A-6, Koningin Elisabethlaan 73, tel. (+32) 922 09 024, www.eurolines.be. If you want to take a cheap bus to discover another exotic destination, the Eurolines bus might be your thing! You can take your bottle of Roomer or your box of chocolates with you to Stockholm, Paris or even Bratislava. QOpen , Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 08:45 - 12.30&13:30-17:45, Sat 09:00 - 12:30. Closed Sun.

is about 40 percent cheaper than a normal return ticket. If you are staying in Belgium for a while, you could consider buying a Rail Pass (€76), which allows you to make 10 single journeys within Belgium. Travellers who haven’t yet reached the age of 26 could get a Go-Pass for €50.

Car rental

Three tram lines run through the city. The most frequent and perhaps the most useful one is tram 1, which travels from Flanders Expo, via Sint-Pieters station to Evergem. Tram 4 tours around the city centre from the suburb Moscou, via Zuid and Sint-Pieters station to Zwijnaardebrug, at the city’s southern edge. Trams are frequent and you will rarely be waiting longer than 8 minutes. The latest departures are roughly at 23:00.

Avis Kortrijksesteenweg 676, tel. (+32) 922 20 053, www.avis.be. QOpen 08:00 - 12:00 & 13:00-18:00, Sat 08:00 - 12:00. Closed Sun. AL Hertz Nieuwewandeling 76, tel. (+32) 922 40 406, fax (+32) 922 40 604, hertzgent@skynet.be, www.hertz. be. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. TA

Taxis There are five official taxi ranks in Ghent:Gent-SintPietersstation, Gent-Dampoort station, Korenmarkt, Woodrow Wilsonplein and Flanders Expo.The flag-down rate for all taxis is fixed at €8, which includes the first 3 kilometres and a waiting time of 5 minutes. Every additional kilometre costs €2 and at night (between 22:00 and 06:00) there is a flat surcharge of €2.50. Taxi drivers are always required to use the meter, even to destinations outside the city perimeter. The only exception to this rule applies to long-distance journeys with fixed rates. Such destinations include Brussels Airport (€95) and Brussels South-Charleroi Airport (€140).

CR Taxi Zuidledeplein 19, tel. (+32) 489 22 20 80, fax

(+32) 925 92 188, info@taxicr.be, www.taxicr.be. A reliable taxi company. It is possible to book a taxi for up to six passengers. QOpen 00:00 - 24:00. PA Minerva Watertaxi A-3, B-4, Coupure Rechts 2a, tel. (+32) 923 37 917, fax (+32) 378 91 759, www. minervaboten.be. This boat rental company offers a water taxi service along the Leie River, but you will have to book in advance. Minerva also rents its boats for trips upstream the scenic Leie River, into the rural area southwest of the city. QOpen 10:00 - 20:00. Prices: €50/hour, €20/hour waiting time. J V-Tax Wiedauwkaai 98, tel. (+32) 922 22 222, fax (+32) 922 24 436, info@v-tax.be, www.v-tax.be. One of the largest and oldest taxi companies in the country. QOpen 00:00 - 24:00. A

Trams

Bicycle rental Biker C-2, Steendam 16, tel. (+32) 922 42 903, www.bikerfietsen.net. Biker sells, repairs and rents bicycles. The rental fee is €9 per day. QOpen 09:00 12:30 & 13:30-18:00. Closed Mon, Sun. J De Ligfiets D-4, Lange Violettestraat 49, tel. (+32) 922 50 777, fax (+32) 922 34 496, info@ ligfiets.be, www.deligfiets.be. Have you ever wanted to ride a recumbent bicycle? Well, here is your chance. De Ligfiets, which means ‚the recumbent bike’ in Dutch, rents these relaxing bicycles for €25 per day. The store is only open three days a week, but you can make an appointment for other days. QOpen 14:00 - 20:00, Sat 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Wed, Sun. J Max Mobiel A-6, Voskenslaan 27, tel. (+32) 924 28 040, fax (+32) 924 28 049, max-mobiel@ gent.be, www.max-mobiel.be. Located behind Sint-Pietersstation, you can rent a bicycle here for €9 per day or €25 per week. Max Mobiel is primarily aimed at local commuters, but tourists are welcome as well. People getting off at Dampoortstation can also collect a bike there. QOpen 07:00 - 19:00, Sat 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun.

Trains With 3513 kilometres of railroads,Belgium has one of the densest railway networks in the world. Train travel is the easiest way to get around in the country. Gent-Sint-Pietersstation has trains departing in all directions.Every train that travels to or from Antwerp also stops at Gent-Dampoort station. Belgium’s national railway company, NMBS (SNCB in French), runs three types of trains: Intercity trains (IC) are the quickest ones, Interregio trains (IR) usually have a few more stops and the slowest type is the Local train (L). For departure times and fares, surf to www.b-rail.be. Tickets can be bought at ticket offices, vending machines or from the conductor inside the train. If you buy a ticket inside the train you have to pay a €3 surcharge and you will have to immediately notify the conductor (otherwise you could be fined).First class tickets are about 50% more expensive than second class tickets, but not really worth the extra money. A weekend ticket

ghent.inyourpocket.com

Riding a bike is fun for the whole family

July 2013 - January 2014

Basics Read on and find out why the Belgian police do not allow you to ride a bicycle with a passenger on the back seat, along with many other useful Belgian facts.

Alcohol Belgians love to go to the pub and enjoy the country’s famously fresh beer, considered to be the national drink. Most pubs serve Belgian beers of which the best known are Jupiler, Maes and Stella, but in the city centre many bars serve a much wider range of regional beers. Watch out for the heavier stuff like Delirium Tremens (9%), which makes you see pink elephants...For those who stick around more than a day, city brewery Gruut -C-3- is worth a visit. Restaurants, pubs and shops serve and sell beer and wine to anyone over the age of 16, although to buy and consume spirits you have to be 18. Speaking of spirits, look out for the infamous Jenever: a potent liquor that Belgians enjoy inflicting on tourists.

Mail & Phones Postal delivery in Belgium is generally reliable. Wireless internet is also sweeping the nation. Read here how to keep in touch with your loved ones back home. Straight from the bar or one of the many terraces.

Mobile phones You can use your mobile phone if your provider has an international roaming agreement with one of the mobile phone networks of Belgium. Normally, if you’re abroad, you have to pay roaming charges on all incoming and outgoing calls, text messages, mms and internet.

Dialing All In Your Pocket guides list country codes before all telephone numbers. The Belgian country code is (+32).

Post The Belgium postal system works more or less infallibly. Letters and parcels are sent without ado across the whole world. At post offices you can buy stamps and drop off parcels. Posting a letter or a postcard within Belgium will cost you €0.77, within Europe €1,13 and for the rest of the world you pay €1.34. For parcel shipping prices and the most up-to-date postage rates check www.bpost.be. Some supermarkets have a ‚postpunt’, indicating that you can buy stamps there and post your letters or parcels.

Postkantoor Gent Centrum B-3, Lange Kruisstraat

55, tel. (+32) 220 12 345, www.bpost.be. The post office at Gent Centrum is the largest in the city centre. If wou want to avoid the big crowds, come in the quieter periods (between 09:00-10:00, 13:00-14:00 or 17:00-18:00). Mail can also be posted in the red letter boxes spread all over Ghent. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00, Sat 09:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun. JU

Wireless internet If you’d like to check your e-mail or just surf the web while sipping a chai tea, just look for one of the many hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes that offer free wireless internet acces in their rooms. Many times you have to ask the staff for the current password or fill in their phone number, which actually also works most of the time. Just look for the wifi symbol in this guide to find venues with free wireless access.

Ghent In Your Pocket

Great Bradley Wiggins Who knew? The first Englishman to ever win the Tour de France, Bradley Wiggins, is a son of... Ghent. Wiggins, who won Le Tour in 2012 and who will start this year’s race as the favourite, was born in Ghent in 1980, the son of an English mother Linda and an Australian father, Gary. Wiggins Sr. was also a professional cyclist, and at the time was riding for the now defunct Marc-ARD team, which was based in Ghent. After his parents divorced in 1982, Wiggins moved to England with his mother, and would not see his father again for more than 14 years. Living in Maida Vale, north London, Wiggins attended the St Augustine’s Church of England High School, a comprehensive in Kilburn at which his mother worked. He began cycle racing at the age of 12 at the Herne Hill Velodrome, recalling recently in an interview that: ‘At 12 I told my art teacher, I’m going to be Olympic champion, I’m going to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour.’ And much more besides, he could have added. Wiggins’s career began in track cycling, specialising in the pursuit and the Madison, before he gradually moved into road racing. He has won six cycling World Championships, his first in 2003 and his most recent in 2008. He won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics, a gold, a silver and a bronze at the 2004 Summer Olympics, two golds at the 2008 Summer Olympics and another gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics. After the 2008 Olympics, Wiggins took a break from the track to focus on the road. Initially viewed as a time trial specialist and as a rouleur, Wiggins showed his ability in stage races when he came fourth in the 2009 Tour de France (later promoted to third after Lance Armstrong’s results were voided in 2012). His first victory in a major stage race came in the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné, and later that year finished third in the Vuelta a España. He then took second in the time trial at the 2011 UCI Road World Championships. In 2012 - besides winning the Tour and taking two individual stages - Wiggins won the Paris–Nice, the Tour de Romandie, the Critérium du Dauphiné, and the time trial at the Olympics. He was then given a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year honours list, but has since gone on to say that he will not use the title Sir until he retires from cycling.

Climate While it’s usually cold and wet in winter and often warm and dry in summer, but unfortunately you never really know in this mild sea-climate. So it’s always wise to bring a raincoat or an umbrella. Whatever the weather, Belgians always find a reason to complain about it. A good website to check the current weather in your favourite Belgian city is www.meteo.be.

Cycling Ghent is a great town to explore by bike. Even though a lot of monuments are within walking distance of each other, a bicycle gives you the chance to see more in less time. A couple of cycling routes will get you to the different corners of the town and then beyond. Bikers pretty much reign the city. They can cycle in almost every street and a part of the historical centre is car-free. Overall, Ghent is

ghent.inyourpocket.com

Basics as flat as a pancake, but don’t misjudge the steep streets surrounding the Blandijnberg. Those streets make you crave you had the stamina of a top Belgian cyclist like Tom Boonen. A couple of things to keep in mind: beware of the tramlines, as once your wheel gets stuck in it, you will fall. Remember to always lock your bike because - to the frustration of many bikers - stealing bikes is the national sport of Belgium’s rascals. And don’t even think about having your loved one (or anyone else) riding on the back of your bike, as the police will hit you with a heavy fine.

Disabled travellers Most public places and facilities in Ghent are accessible for disabled travellers. Most pavements have been adapted with rubber strips, and traffic lights at crossings have clicking systems. Accessible Travel Info Point is a service of the Flemish Tourist Board that people with disabilities can consult when travelling to Flanders. If you’re travelling by train in wheelchair, the Belgian rail system asks to go get in touch with the station of departure at least - believe it or not - 24 hours in advance.

Electricity The electrical current is 220V AC, 50Hz. European plugs are a must. At least if you wanna be connected to the outside world...

Emergency numbers Dial the European emergency number 112 in case of emergency. The number will connect you with local police, ambulance or fire department. For all other cases (for instance Anonymous Alcoholics, the Drugsline and Abusement of Elders hotline - really), just surf to www. noodnummer.be.

Health & Safety Ghent is a relatively safe city for residents and tourists, but you should watch out for pickpockets. Obviously, don’t leave your belongings unattended and use common sense at all times. There is a large police presence in the centre. Nevertheless, try to avoid unlit streets and parks late at night. As mentioned elsewhere, bicycle theft is common so a good lock is essential.

Local time From the last weekend of March till the last weekend of October, Belgium is in the Central European Summer Time Zone, or GMT+2. During the rest of the year the clock ticks according to the Central European Time Zone, or GMT+1 .

Facts & Figures Population (Belgium): 10,839,905 (in 2010) Longest rivers: Maas (Meuse) an Schelde (Scheldt) Highest point: Botrange (694m) Length of Belgian coastline: 66,5 km Land area: 30.528 km² Borders: Belgium has borders with the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. Capital: Brussels

ghent.inyourpocket.com

Language Dutch is spoken in Flanders, the upper part of Belgium. Although it is almost identical to the language used in the Netherlands, in Belgium the Dutch language is called Flemish. In Flanders, most people have a fairly good knowledge of English. Next to Dutch, Belgium also has French and German as national languages. Almost 60 per cent of the Belgian population speaks Dutch. French is the common language in Brussels and Wallonia (the southern part of the country). Only one per cent of the countrys population uses German as its mother tongue, spoken in a few communities in the east of Belgium.

Useful Phrases in Dutch

How are you? Hoe is het ermee? Pleased to meet you. Aangename kennismaking. Do you speak English? Spreekt u Engels? Where is the nearest shop, hotel, restaurant, bar or toilet? Is er een winkel, een hotel, een restaurant, een café of een toilet in de buurt? What’s your name? Wat is uw naam? My name is … Mijn naam is ... What time is it? Hoe laat is het? How much? Hoeveel kost dit? Hello Hallo Good morning Goeiemorgen Good evening Goeieavond Goodnight Goeienacht Goodbye Daaaaag Yes Ja No Nee Maybe Misschien Thank you Bedankt

Days of the week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Numbers

1 een 2 twee 3 drie 4 vier 5 vijf 6 zes 7 zeven 8 acht 9 negen 10 tien 11 elf 12 twaalf

maandag dinsdag woensdag donderdag vrijdag zaterdag zondag 13 dertien 14 veertien 15 vijftien 16 zestien 17 zeventien 18 achttien 19 negentien 20 twintig 21 eenentwintig 100 honderd 500 vijfhonderd

Street smarts

Street, road straat Square / Market plein Airport luchthaven Port haven Bus station busstation Train station treinstation Taxi taxi

July 2013 - January 2014

Basics Money

Smoking

Since 2002, a large part of the European Union has adopted the euro as its local currency and Belgium is no exception. One euro contains 100 euro cents. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents, and also of 1 and 2 euro. Banknotes are available with the following values: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. Although a collection of €200 and €500 bills in your wallet might make you feel like the richest man on the planet, bear in mind that they’re almost never accepted in shops or restaurants. You can exchange and withdraw money at most large banks; there are plenty in the city centre. All Belgian banks accept Visa and MasterCard at their cash dispensers and there are ATMs all over Ghent. Many restaurants, hotels and shops accept credit cards, although a lot of grocery stores require a minimum purchase. Most bars only accept cash.

Since July 2011, smoking in all bars and nightclubs has only been allowed in separate smoking rooms, extending a smoking ban that forbade smoking in public places and restaurants. The majority of bars comply with the smoking ban, but in some places, the owner (usually a smoker himself) will still allow his clients to smoke. From 2014 (at the latest) the law will be tightened even more.

Consulates Central Africa Gouvernementstraat 16, tel. (+32) 923 42 969, consulaat.centraal.afrika@ pandora.be. Congo Rozemarijnstraat 47, tel. (+32) 922 32 045, dmdiffusion@skynet.be. Cote D’Ivoir Kouter 71/72, tel. (+32) 922 30 571, rudycolle@uirr.com. Danmark Noorwegenstraat 11, tel. (+32) 925 44 480, jarimar@skynet.be. Finland Gouvernementstraat 20, tel. (+32) 922 59 920, christian.lardinoit@pandora.be. France H. Frère-Orbanlaan 376, tel. (+32) 922 31 895, francois.deren@yahoo.fr. Guatemala Prinsenhof 38, tel. (+32) 922 31 043, h.ghuys@skynet.be. Italy Oude Heirweg 6, tel. (+32) 938 08 668, barillari.consul@skynet.be. Jemen J.Plateaustraat 49, tel. (+32) 922 50 174, dirk@bontinck.biz. Lithuania Coupure 371, tel. (+32) 922 30 258, consulate.lithuania@hausbe.eu. Namibia Vinkendal 15, tel. (+32) 922 65 506, namib.consul@pandora.be. Oeganda Nelemeerstraat 31, tel. (+32) 928 25 373, cons.uganda.flanders@telenet.be. Peru Koningin Astridlaan 185, tel. (+32) 922 18 021, vynckier.y@gmail.com. Poland Lange Kruisstraat 7, tel. (+32) 473 400 277, jmdb@pandora.be. Rwanda Gentstraat 1 3, tel. (+32) 938 45 342, rwanda@consul-generaal.be. Senegal Deinsesteenweg 109, tel. (+32) 927 72 041, alain.goetghebuer@skynet.be. Slovakia Lange Kruisstraat 7, tel. (+32) 923 54 935, arnold.vanhaecke@unizo-oost-vlaanderen. be. South-Korea Bij Sint-Jacob 15, tel. (+32) 922 53 068, info@sadiclaeys.be. Spain Tentoonstellingslaan 54, tel. (+32) 926 57 632, ingrid.van.royen@pandora.be. The Netherlands Recollettenlei 12, tel. (+32) 922 51 816, cg.nederland.gent@telenet.be. Tunisia Kortrijksesteenweg 1004, tel. (+32) 922 14 177, andre.francq@ijv.be. Ghent In Your Pocket

Tipping Tipping is not obligatory, but if you think the service was fine, a tip is always appreciated by the staff. Tips vary from 20 cents to €5, or a rounding up of the bill.

Toilets On the occasion of World Toilet Day on 19 November, the city of Ghent highlighted its inner-city public toilet facilities. It issued a ‚WC map’ in Dutch and English which is available free of charge from the Tourism Office or the Ghent city shop. A great souvenir, the map currently only shows public toilet facilities in the inner city where the ring road and the railway stations of Gent Sint-Pieters and Gent Dampoort demarcate the border. Within this area, all public toilets, toilets for the disabled, toilets with nappy changing facilities and urinals are shown on the map. Ladies (Dames) or Gents (Heren) is written on ll toilet doors. When you have to go badly, note that it’s not generally accepted simply to barge into a café or restaurant: staff will appreciate if you ask in advance. If you see a saucer by the toilets, then you’re expected to donate a small amount of money for toilet maintenance; 20 or 50 cents is fine.

Water Any of the European countries that are part of the European Union have very similar, strict standards to drinking water regulations. You can rest assured that it’s safe to be drinking water from the tap here, with some experts even saying it’s better to drink tap water then to drink bottled water, since the tap variety is filtered of chalk and other minerals.

National holidays On national holidays, almost all shops, restaurants and public places are closed. If the holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday some places make the bridge with the weekend and take the extra day. During school holidays expect shopping streets, historical attractions and public transport to be more crowded. Take this in consideration when booking your trip. 21 July 2013: Belgian National Day 15 August 2013: Assumption Day 1 November 2013: All Saints’ Day 11 November 2013: Armistice Day 25 December 2013: Christmas 1 January 2014: New Year School holidays Summer holiday: 1 July- 31 August 2013 Autumn half-term break: 28 October - 3 November 2013 Spring half-term break: 3 - 9 March 2014 Easter holiday: 7 - 20 April 2014

ghent.inyourpocket.com

history 7th century

Amandus (who would eventually be proclaimed a saint after a long life of hardship and persecution trying to evangelize the pagans of northern Europe) founded two abbeys: one at Lys (the Ganda Abbey) and one upstream at Scheldt (the St. Pieters Abbey). One of his followers, Bavo, a rich nobleman who gave all his possessions away to live as a hermit in Ganda, was such an inspiration for so many people in the area that the abbey of Ganda was later named after him, becoming the St Baaf’s Abbey we know today. Politically, Ghent was as this stage part of the Germanic empire.

9th - 10th century

After surviving two Viking excursions, Lys and Scheldt - both boasting harbours - grew around the nucleus of the St. Baaf’s and St. Pieter’s Abbeys and became increasingly strong, powerful and rich settlements; by the end of the 10th century they were part of the French empire.

12th - 13th century

English wool and French grain were imported via the harbours at Lys and Scheldt. They became the pillars of what turned out to be a very thriving textile and grain business in medieval Ghent. Throughout the Middle Ages Ghent had a population of about 65,000 making it larger than London, Cologne or Antwerp. Moreover Ghent was, after Paris, the biggest and wealthiest city north of the Alps. During this time the Count of Flanders, in fact a representative of the French king, had his wooden castle enlarged, fortified and transformed into an expensive stone edifice, the Castle of the Counts we know it today. He had it build not so much to defend the city against foreign invaders but to impress and keep an eye on the rich, powerful and - most of all - headstrong and rebellious citizens of Ghent.

Noose-bearers Why are the citizens of Ghent called the noose-bearers? To answer this question, we go back to 1540. Then the people of Ghent revolted against Charles V, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, who imposed on them yet another war tax. As the citizens refused to pay, the emperor decided to personally set things right in his hometown. He demanded all aldermen, deans and burghers of the lower working classes make a public show of contrition. Fifty of the burghers thus had to wear a noose round their neck, as if ready the gallows. In the eyes of outsiders, all residents of Ghent shared the fate of the burghers and were thenceforth nicknamed the noose-bearers. The people of Ghent were not amused with the name and imposed strict sanctions on people caught using it. Nowadays, however, the prople of Ghent are proud to be called noose-bearers or ‘stropkes’. The noose is a symbol of the town’s resistance against every form of tyranny and misplaced authority. During official ceremonies or the Gentse Feesten, you will come across people wearing a noose around their neck. At the Bachtenwalle, there’s a 1.80m statue of a noose-bearer. A little detail: he’s looking proudly in the direction of the gate of the Prince’s Court, where the emperor was born. Another (not so little) detail, is the ‘masculinity’ of the statue. They say it only illustrates that there was a strong wind on the evening of the confession...

ghent.inyourpocket.com

14th century

During the 100 years war between England and France, Edward III forbade all exports of English wool to Flanders and to Ghent. After all Flanders was, albeit reluctantly, part of the French crown. As a result, the cloth halls were empty and about 60 per cent of the population of Ghent was unemployed. After two years of famine and riots, the people of Ghent were starving and desperate. It was at this point that Jacob Van Artevelde, presumably a textile businessman, negotiated with the English king and the ‘weak’ Count of Flanders (who had fled for France when rioting broke out). His strategy was to convince both of them to give Ghent, from an economic point of view, neutral status. After all, nobody gained from a starving, rebellious city, which had nothing to produce and nothing to lose. Van Artevelde succeeded in his mission and wool once again became the source of Ghent’s well-being. Van Artevelde became a hero in Ghent and even today the city is known as the Artevelde city.

15th century

Ghent became part of the Burgundian empire and attracted the rich and famous looking for luxurious textiles, garments and art. Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, supported several Flemish artists (the so-called Flemish Primitives, such as Jan Van Eyck) and played an important role in establishing Flanders as an important and trendsetting European arts centre. It was in this time that the brothers Van Eyck painted their world famous polyptych, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (1432). Politically the dukes tried to centralize power and taken the regions, a policy against which the citizens of Ghent often rebelled. Nevertheless, the dukes of Burgundy often enjoyed their holidays at the Prinsenhof in Ghent, a wonderful palace located at on of the canals. They had it build as an alternative to the dark and humid Castle of the Counts. The Prinsenhof was a lusthof, filled with music and dance, gardens and ponds and even a zoo with lions. Unfortunately, little now remains of what was once one of the most spectacular palaces in Europe. The area it occupied is still called Prinsenhof, however.

16th century

On February 24th of the year 1500, Charles the V was born at Prinsenhof and later baptized in the St. Baaf’s Cathedral. Born out of a marriage of Joanna of Castile and Philip the Fair, Duke of Burgundy, he would become an emperor unlike few the world had seen. Reigning over what is nowadays the Netherlands, Belgium, a part of France, Germany, Austria, Spain, a part of Italy and all the colonies of Spain in South America made him the ruler of an empire on which ’the sun never sets.’ Although Charles V spent most of his time abroad battling against his lifelong enemy Francois I of France, he liked to return once every few years to his home town of Ghent. His home was of course Prinsenhof. 1540: A crucial date for Ghent. After being away for three years, Charles V is called back urgently to Ghent by his sister and governess, Mary of Hungary, who is facing opposition to the taxes being imposed on the citizens of Ghent. The city, tired of paying for Charles’ wars, refuses to pay. The atmosphere is tense and riots are frequent. Charles returns to Ghent together with an arms of 10,000 soldiers and punishes his hometown. Symbollically, on February 24th, his 40th birthday, Charles ordered the most influential and rebellious citizens to walk in procession to the Prinsenhof, bare foot, dressed only in a simple white shirt, with a black and white noose around their neck. They were then forced to publicly ask him forgiveness.

July 2013 - January 2014

history Unwilling to take anymore risks, Charles commissioned the building of a new fortress in Ghent in which numerous Spanish soldiers would be stationed to make sure that the citizens of Ghent wouldn’t be in a position to rebel anymore. These events gave the people of Ghent the unfortunate nickname of Stroppendragers (noose wearers). However, the nickname soon became a badge of honour, a symbol of rebelliousness, freedom and of a proud Ghent identity. Besides the political turmoil, Reformation and CounterReformation colored 16th century Ghent. Traditionally a catholic region, the people of Ghent were very critical towards an increasingly decadent catholic church and many converted to Protestantism, risking life and limb by doing so. Charles V - and especially his son Philip II of Spain - burned many of the reformers, and their books, at the stake. It was at this stage that St Jan’s Church became St Baaf’s Cathedral and a bishop was inaugurated. Finally, the international textile business shifted from refined wool towards less expensive fabrics such as linen, velvet and flax. These economic changes together with growing competition hit Ghent hard.

17th century

The 17th century was a time of economic decline for Ghent. The power of the guilds was broken and on top of that Ghent lost its privileges in the grain business. Due to the inquisition and the Counter-Reformation, a lot of citizens fled to the Netherlands as a result of which the population of Ghent declined to 30.000 inhabitants at the beginning of the 17th century.

18th century

Ghent became part of the Holy Roman Empire, led by Maria Theresia and her son, Emperor Jozef II. Under the Austrians canals were dug, widened and deepened in order to facilitate bigger ships coming into the harbours of Ghent. Times were starting to look better again, especially at the end of the century when Lieven Bauwens smuggled a semi-automatic spinning machine out of England and brought it to Ghent. It marked the start of what would be a thriving 19th century. At the end of the 18th century Ghent once again became a part of France, only to be handed to the Netherlands after the battle of Waterloo.

19th century

Willem I and the citizens of Ghent found common interest and connected quite well. Willem founded Ghent University (1817), had the Ghent-Terneuzen canal dug as well as a new harbour (1827) built in the north of the city, thanks to which Ghent became an important seaport. Ghent transformed itself into the most important cotton city in continental Europe in the 19th century, importing cotton from the US, India and many other places. Over 1500 factories were built within the city walls and the population exploded: from 55,000 at the beginning of the 19th century to 160.000 at the end of the century. Working conditions however were harsh and Ghent was once again rebelling: this time fighting for better working conditions. Most of modern Belgium’s trade unions were founded in those days, in Ghent. 1830: Belgium became an independent state. The city council - together with the wealthy textile class - opposed the new state. They called themselves Orangists, wanting to remain part of the Netherlands.

What’s in a name? The name Gent comes from the word Ganda, an old Celtic word which means ‘confluence’. The Celts used Ganda to indicate their settlement at the confluence of the two rivers in Ghent, the Lys (Leie) and the Scheldt (Schelde). Under Roman occupation (1st-4th century) the name Ganda survived, changing in the Middle Ages, when it gradually became Gand, Ghendt, Ghent and finally Gent. 1918: Although the First (and Second) World War hit Ghent hard, it was able to save a large part of its architectural heritage. Many unemployed people were employed during the war to enlarge Ghent harbour. 1934: A panel of the priceless altar piece The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is stolen: it has never been found. 1938: Corneille Heymans receivers the Nobel Prize for Medicine. Fifties & Sixties: After the Second World War, the port of Ghent developed into a modern industrial area, a centre of the car and steel industries. The port of Ghent becomes the third most important in Belgium, attracting businesses from all over the world. The textile industry however further declines. 1968: Ghent’s Festivals are revived, and today more than 1.5 million visitors take part in what - at 10 days and 10 nights - is one of the biggest festivals in Europe. 1969: A canal (the Ringvaart) is dug in order to connect the Lys and the Scheldt and numerous other canals, allowing ships to reach the new port in the north of Ghent without going through the city centre. Since then the former medieval harbours at Lys and Scheldt - no longer useful - have become popular hangouts for Ghent’s hippest inhabitants. 1977: Ghent unifies all its districts and surroundings into one big city. 1999: The Belfry, the Cloth Hall and the beguinages are proclaimed Unesco World Heritage sites.

21st century

2009: Ghent is appointed as Unesco Creative City of Music 2012: About 240,000 people currently live in Ghent, as well as about 70,000 students. Ghent University is blossoming, as result of which Ghent has become a strong research and development centre. Contemporary Ghent is a vibrant mix of all kinds of people living in a stunning historical setting. It is no wonder that both National Geographic and Lonely Planet have declared Ghent as one of 10 must-see places in the world.

20th century

1911: Maurice Maeterlinck receives the Nobel Prize for Literature 1913: Ghent hosts the World Exhibition, for which many of the city’s finest buildings were renovated. 1914-

Ghent In Your Pocket

Lichtfestival, lightens up your winter

ghent.inyourpocket.com

Culture & Events Ballet & Opera Vlaamse Opera B-3, Schouwburgstraat 3, tel.

(+32) 926 81 011, fax (+32) 922 38 726, info@ vlaamseopera.be, www.vlaamseopera.be. The building we know as the Flanders Opera was opened in 1840. City architect Louis Roelandt built the opera, together with the cour t house and the La Concorde ballroom, creating a unique architectural effect in the Kouter square neighbourhood. The three banquet halls are 90 meters in length, while the auditorium seats 1002 people and has an impressive three-metre diameter chandelier. Q Open 11:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon, Sun. Next to working hours, the box office opens 1 hour before each performance. JAUL

Want to go for a picknick on the river?

Markets, Festivals & Events Friday, Saturday & Sunday mornings Flea market around St. Jakobschurch (C-2) Friday morning Farmers‘ market at Groentenmarkt (B-2) Sunday morning Flower market at Kouter (B-3) Sunday morning Market around St. Michielschurch (B-2) Sunday morning Book market at Ajuinlei (B-3) (if it’s sunny) Date

Event

Venue

July 1 July – 31 August

Parkkaffee more info&updates @parkkaffee.be

Parkkaffee

11 – 14

Gent Jazz Festival more info&updates @gentjazz.com

BIJ

20 – 29

Gentse Feesten more info&updates @gentsefeesten.be

City centre

31 July – 29 September

DOK beach more info&updates @dokgent.be

DOK

9 – 11

Patersholfeesten more info&updates @patershol.be

Patershol

Every Thursday

DOK open air cinema

DOK

Every Sunday

DOK flea market

DOK

Open Monumentsday OdeGand Ghent, Gent Festival of Flanders more info&updates @gentfestival.be De Beloften, music festival more info&updates @democrazy.be

Different locations

August

September 8 14 – 20 21

Different locations

October 8 – 19 17 19

Film Festival Gent more info&updates @filmfestival.be Scoring for Scorsese more info&updates @filmfestival.be World Soundtrack Awards more info&updates @filmfestival.be

Kinepolis, Sphinx, Studio Skoop BIJ Kuipke Gent

December 13, 14

ghent.inyourpocket.com

Glimps Festival music festival more info&updates @glimpsgent.be

different locations

July 2013 - January 2014

Culture & Events minutes’ walk from the city centre. In its four concert halls, De Bijloke puts on classic music from ancient to symphonic, from classical western to eastern music and even some jazz. The music centre forms part of the De Bijloke world heritage site and combines historical and contemporary architecture with greenery. Until a quarter of a century ago, the main activity of the site was to take care of the sick. The concert hall of the music centre for example is a gigantic medieval hospital that dates back to the 13th century. Look out for the spectacular oak ceiling. QOpen 10:00 - 12:00 & 13:00-17:00, Sat 13:00 - 17:00. Closed Mon, Sun. The day of the concert the ticket office opens one hour before the concert. AUEKW

Concert halls

O8 ›19 OCT 2O13 www.filmfestival.be

Flanders Expo Maaltekouter 1, tel. (+32) 924 19 211, fax (+32) 924 19 325, flandersexpo@artexis.com, www.flandersexpo.be. Just 10 km from Ghent you will find Flanders Expo, which organizes large-scale exhibitions, parties and concerts. Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Sting, Tina Turner and U2 are some of the artists that have performed here. Q AULE Handelsbeurs B-3, Kouter 29, tel. (+32) 926 59 165, fax (+32) 923 35 576, mail@handelsbeurs.be, www. handelsbeurs.be. Both established artists and new music revelations play at Handelsbeurs. The concert house offers world music, jazz, blues and pop rock, but also has a strong program of classical music. QOpen 10:00 - 12:30 & 13:30-17:30, Sat 10:00 - 12:30 & 13:00-16:30. Closed Sun. JAULE

Galleries Fortlaan 17 B-6, Fortlaan 17, tel. (+32) 922 20 033,

galerie@fortlaan17.com, www.fortlaan17.com. Gallery Fortlaan 17 is two floors of contemporary art. Facing the Kinepolis C-5, Ter Platen 12, tel. (+32) 926 50 600, fax Citadelpark it exhibits contemporary artists from home and 13-289_inyou_60bx90h.indd 1 6/06/13 11:26 young artists and Belgian talents. Fortlaan 17 is loabroad, (+32) 926 50 606, info@kinepolis.be, www.kinepolis. cated in one of the few Art Nouveau houses in Ghent. QOpen com. Kinepolis is the biggest cinema in Ghent and the place for commercial and 3D movies. The cinema is located not far 14:00 - 18:00, Sat 12:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Sun. from Sint-Pieters square. During the Film Festival Gent , most Gallery Tatjana Pieters Nieuwevaart 124, tel. (+ 32) movies are shown here. Q Weekdays, weekends and holidays 932 44 529, info@tatjanapieters.com. Gallery Tatjana Pieters introduces and supports Belgian talent as well as from 13:00, Christmas holiday from 10:00. TAULG Sphinx Cinema B-2, Sint-Michielshelling 3, tel. (+32) promoting international artists. Tatjana Pieters her way of thinking is: show local, act global, and her gallery is located 922 56 086, fax (+32) 923 35 253, info@sphinx-cinema. in an old warehouse in the industrial area of Ghent. With a be, www.sphinx-cinema.be. Sphinx is another art-house unique exhibition space of 400 m², this gallery is a must. cinema, showing European and non-Western movies. The building, located near the Korenmarkt, was built in 1912 QOpen 14:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon, Tue. AL and has always been used as a cinema. It has five screens Zebrastraat C-5, Zebrastraat 32, tel. (+32) 471 31 00 on three floors, which means lots of stairs. Sphinx cinema 01, www.zebrastraat.be/. Zebrastraat brings together has a nice bar and terrace, where you can enjoy a pre- or housing, culture and economy. Next to five congress rooms post-movie drink. J and 70 residences, you can find ta 750m² exhibition that Studio Skoop C-3, Sint-Annaplein 63, tel. (+32) 922 50 displays the work of artists who combine contemporary art with technology. Zebrastraat is located just outside the city 845, fax (+32) 923 37 522, info@studioskoop.be, www. centre, but occasionally hides a gem that makes it worth a studioskoop.be. A small art-house cinema, close to the Zuid visit. On the roof of the Zebrastraat site, there are two glossy, site, that shows quality non-commercial films on five screens. yellow constructions, each 12 metre long, 6 metres wide and Studio Skoop has been around for 40 years and even though 3 metres high. Don’t forget to look up when you are in the area! the seats were recently renewed, the cinema still gives off an old, but cosy, atmosphere. After the movie, don’t leave without QOpen 14:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon, Tue. GB having a drink at the Studio Skoop Café where old cinema seats, retro movie posters and portraits of Scarlett Johansson and Marlene Dietrich make you feel part of it all. Q Ticket office opens 30 minutes before each movie. TJL Café De Loge A-3, Annonciadenstraat 5, tel. (+32) 922 53 438, www.deloge.be. This congenial bar puts on a free concert every Wednesday evening with many singer songwriters passing through. Every fourth Tuesday of the De Bijloke C-4, Jozef Kluyskensstraat 2, tel. (+32) month, Café De Loge gives an open stage to a handful of beginner songwriters. Q Open 11:30 - 01:00, Sat, Sun 923 36 878, fax (+32) 922 56 582, info@debijloke.be, wwww.debijloke.be. De Bijloke Music Centre is located 10 09:00 - 01:00. JAB

Cinema

Live Music

Classical music

Ghent In Your Pocket

ghent.inyourpocket.com

Culture & Events Café Video C-2, Oude Beestenmarkt 7, info@cafe-

video.be, www.cafevideo.be. Café Video is a popular bar with live music from up-and-coming bands during the week and live DJ’s on Fridays and Saturdays. All concerts are free and start at 21:30. QOpen 20:00 - 06:00. Closed Sun. Open on Sunday when there is a concert planned. JEGB Charlatan C-2, Vlasmarkt 6, tel. (+32) 922 42 457, info@ charlatan.be, charlatan.be. Charlatan has a live band or DJ more or less daily. Music genres vary from rock, rhythm & blues and soul to indie, pop and punk. Everything find its way to Charlatan: as long as it’s cool. Charlatan’s motto: Lean back and relax or get up and dance. Concerts start at 22:00, unless otherwise stated. QOpen 19:00 - 06:00. Closed Mon. JEGB Club Reserva B-2, Jan Breydelstraat 32, tel. (+32) 489 11 63 95, info@clubreserva.be, www.clubreserva.be. Every Thursday a fine concert takes place here, either in the afternoon or in the evening. Club Reserva mainly offers jazz, but now and then you can come here to listen to a classical violinist, some country, blues, rock and roll or folk. Brand new is the ‚mastel’ stand outside this bar, where you can buy this typical speciality from Ghent. A mastel is a round bread, similar to a sandwich roll, spiced with cinnamon with a hole in the middle. Younes Benzaza opened Mastelle&Co, and he will serve you savoury and sweet variations of this typical bun with a big smile! QOpen , Thu 19:00 - 03:00, Fri, Sat 16:00 - 03:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Wed, Sun. JE DOK D-1, Koopvaardijlaan, tel. (+32) 922 41 940, www.dokgent.be. Port area Dok provides a space for small scale rock and pop concerts. Many of these concerts are organized by Democrazy, an event organizer with an eye for everything that’s hot and new. Concerts can take place at the DOKcanteen (free) or at the DOKarena, an amphitheatre made of earth and grass. When it’s raining those concerts move to the DOKbox. Dok also installs a beach every summer, where you can enjoy movies, concerts or even flea markets on this city beach. Very child- and dogfriendly. T6UILENGBKXW Hot Club de Gand B-2, Schuddevisstraatje - Groentemarkt 15b, tel. (+32) 486 74 07 99, gerben@hotclubdegand.be, www.hotclubdegand.be. This music venue offers a wide range of music: mainly jazz but there’s also room for

flamenco, folk, classical music, blues, chanson, musette, ethnic music and gypsy music. Live music more or less every day.

QOpen 15:00 - 02:00. JEGBX Hotsy Totsy A-2, Hoogstraat 1, tel. (+32) 922 42 012,

hotsy1@skynet.be, www.hotsytotsy.be. At Hotsy Totsy, known for its poetry and music in a 1920/30s inspired-interior, the music ranges from jazz, swing and 20s-30s tunes to blues and French chansons. From October until May, an artist hits the stage on Thursday and every third Wednesday of the month. During the Gentse Feesten, this pub keeps going on a diet of French chansons and rockabilly. JE Kinky Star C-2, Vlasmarkt 9, tel. (+32) 933 57 342, info@kinkystar.com, www.kinkystar.com. For 15 years, music center Kinky Star has been an independent record label, a radio show and a club with two weekly concerts. Kinky Star does not limit itself to one specific style and plays Flemish hiphop, electro and heaps of rock: indierock, garagerock, bluesrock, noiserock, surfrock, stonerrock... You get the idea. All concerts start at 21:30, sharp. DJ sets at 22:00. QOpen 18:00 - 03:00, Tue, Sun 18:00 - 01:00. Closed Mon, Wed. JEGW La Resistenza C-3, Brabantdam 82, tel. (+32) 925 60 967, info@la-resistenza.com, www.la-resistenza. com. In its cellar, music venue La Resistenza hosts jazz concerts with expansions to funk, soul and other genres. Every Friday and Saturday, DJ Cellar Sessions at 21:45. QOpen 11:45 - 05:00, Sat 18:00 - 05:00. Closed Wed, Sun. JEBKW Minor Swing C-1, Ottogracht 58, tel. (+32) 494 90 64 83. At this tiny bar, there’s only room for up to 30 people but there is always room for some swing. Every first and third Tuesday of the month, they play live swing and jazz. QOpen 18:00 - 03:00. JENGB Trefpunt C-2, Bij Sint-Jacobs 18, tel. (+32) 922 53 676, fax (+32) 923 31 037, info@trefpunt.be, www.trefpunt. be. Every Monday evening, a soloist, a small band or a theatre company play here. During the weekend, things get louder at their concert hall. As with many venues in Ghent, it’s hard to lump the music of this place together: it goes from jazz and folk to blues and world music. During the Gentse Feesten, the Trefpuntfestival stages more than 160 concerts at nine locations. QOpen 17:00 - 03:00, Fri 16:00 - 03:00. JEG

Exhibitions Date

To 18 August To 25 August 2013 To 15 September 2013 To 29 September To 31 December 2013 1 May - 1 December 2013 22 May – 6 October 2013 22 May – 6 October 2013

Event

Koen Theys – Home-made victories Evgenia Arbugaeve En avant, marche Onder Stroom 1001 Dots: exhibition for children 100 years Vooruit Fondation Francès – In alle staten Gideon Kiefer – Drawings Private collection selected by #1 / Collection vqc by Anneke 11 July-25 August Eussen 19 July – 27 October 2013 Peter de Greef, illustrator of sheet music 11 October- 26 January 2014 Expo Martin Scorsese 15 September-20 October Bart De Clercq 27 October – 21 December Heide Hinrichs 27 October – 21 December Allison Hrabluik 1 November– 29 June 2014 War and Trauma 8 December 2013 – 12 Im-/Ex-Plicit / Concept by Luc Derycke & Tatjana Pieters January 2014 To 01 July 2017 artworks To 31 December 2017 The Ghent Alterpiece

ghent.inyourpocket.com

Venue

SM SPA HVA MIAT KT STAM GUI GUI GTP DES CK GTP GTP GTP GUI GTP MSK CK

July 2013 - January 2014

Culture & Events

White Cat B-1, Drongenhof 40, tel. (+32) 496 18 91

89, nicolas@whitecat.be, www.whitecat.be. White Cat is a seventies bar with James Bond interiors and lots of live jam sessions and DJ’s giving you hip hop, soul, funk, rock ‚n roll and disco. It’s also the place to go and score a good drink, and even to try out your dancing shoes... QOpen , Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 21:00 - .... Closed Mon, Tue, Sun. JEG

Theatre & Music Arts centre Vooruit C-4, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 23,

tel. (+32) 926 72 820, fax (+32) 926 72 838, info@ vooruit.be, www.vooruit.be. At Vooruit Arts Centre, located in an art-deco monument built in 1913, the historic decor reconciles with the theatre, dance, literature, new media

Classical & Opera Date

Time

Event

Venue