Inspiration for your post-Covid getaway: fly off to Flanders
Image: Jorn Urbain
SID RAGHAVA extols the virtues of glorious Ghent Belgium is quite a small country. Around 11 million people occupy a rather small western part of the European mainland sandwiched between France to the south and the Netherlands to the north. Yet its capital Brussels houses the headquarters of the European Commission, hosts the Council of the European Union, and the European Council, and is also home to one of two seats of the European Parliament. The country is also the birthplace of popular cultural icons like Tintin and the Smurfs and culinary treats such as waffles and fries. Let’s not forget the staggering number of quality beers that come out of this country – more variety than anywhere else in the world – and arguably the best quality brews too, paired with some of the most ingenious glassware to aid consumption. And then there are the famous artists – Rubens, Breughel and the Van Eyck brothers to name a few – who rivalled the best in Europe and the World. This small country is essentially a tale of two provinces: the French-speaking Wallonia in the south and the Dutch or Flemish speaking Flanders. The latter has always been, in my humble view, the most underrated part of Europe. Yes people visit Flanders in droves and we are all very familiar with Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges but do we really appreciate the contribution that this smaller of the two provinces has made to the world as a whole? Take a closer look at the history and culture of this beautiful part of western Europe and you won’t find another region that has regularly punched above its weight in these ways, time and time again. Its art and architecture rivalled the best of Italy and on the economic front, there was a time when this was the wealthiest part of the world. Since we will KENSINGTON & CHELSEA REVIEW
most likely be shunning travel to faraway countries in the aftermath of Covid-19 (at least in 2021), it’s best to look at nearby options and rediscover the brilliance of Europe. We will aim to cover one city in Flanders in every edition this year to highlight this wonderful part of the continent. The first part is a quick guide to Ghent – a city which has so much to do that almost all visitors keep coming back; the allure remains and there’s always something more to discover. The most obvious thing about Ghent is the sheer accessibility and proximity of various attractions. It boasts the largest pedestrian-friendly area of Europe by percentage, so walking around from one highlight to the other is never a chore. Likewise, cyclists will also feel positively at home and renting one is a piece of cake. Boats, taxis, trains – public transportation is never a problem and you will always feel close enough to Ghent-Sint-Pieters railway station. Then there are waterways and canals all around the city that have been instrumental in making the city what it is today. For a city that offers the arts, fashion, history, beauty and architecture, it is no surprise that there are several tour options from the most professional of guides. So what did we discover on our last – but certainly not ‘the’ last – trip to Ghent? Music to our ears Unesco recognises Ghent as a ‘Creative City of Music’ mostly because of its world-class infrastructure, which includes everything from bandstands, public venues and stages and a diverse network of cafés, art centres and concert halls. It is home to several large and small festivals including Ghent Jazz Festival, the Festival of Flanders and Ghent Festivities. Current bands
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