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This is Ghent

Header This is Ghent

Offbeat city
in the heart of Europe

This page in Dutch

A human-scale city with the heartbeat of a metropolis. A city of trailblazers and free spirits. An authentic place with a rich past and an exciting future.

We’ve got a lot going on in Ghent. But it’s not about how much we do, it’s about the way we do it: together.

Offbeat city
in the heart of Europe

  • A human-scale city with the heartbeat of a metropolis.
    A city of trailblazers and free spirits.
    An authentic place with a rich past and an exciting future.


    We’ve got a lot going on in Ghent.
    But it’s not about how much we do, it’s about the way we do it: together.

Why Ghent is 'de max'

  • A pocket-sized metropolis

    OK, Ghent is not terribly big: you can cycle from one side of town to the other in half an hour. But when Ghentians like something, we describe it as ‘de max’, literally ‘the max(imum)’. Why are we so fond of this superlative phrase? Well, we like to think big. We don’t believe in distance and division. We believe in accessibility and connection. After all, 1 in 3 Ghentians has roots outside Belgium.

  • Stadspromotie wereldstad
  • Acrobate onder stadshal Gentse Feesten

  • Where we do things together

    Our city is a magnet for talent from all over the world. We enjoy an open and creative atmosphere thanks to our vibrant cultural scene, our many renowned knowledge institutions and innovative companies. And though Ghentians are known for being rebellious and pioneering, we leave no one behind. We look out for each other and do all we can to build this city together.
     

  • Our way

    Ghent is a proud city that has always marched to the beat of its own drum. A city where you can be who you are, where there is room to think differently and plot your own course. We’re not afraid to swim against the current if we believe we’re headed in the right direction. It’s no coincidence that Ghent was crowned the veggie capital of Belgium and Europe’s first car-sharing city.

    Read more about the Ghent character

  • Stadspromotie dit is Gent

Why Ghent is 'de max'

  • A pocket-sized metropolis

    OK, Ghent is not terribly big: you can cycle from one side of town to the other in half an hour. But when Ghentians like something, we describe it as ‘de max’, literally ‘the max(imum)’. Why are we so fond of this superlative phrase? Well, we like to think big. We don’t believe in distance and division. We believe in accessibility and connection. After all, 1 in 3 Ghentians has roots outside Belgium.

  • Stadspromotie wereldstad

  • Where we do things together

    Our city is a magnet for talent from all over the world. We enjoy an open and creative atmosphere thanks to our vibrant cultural scene, our many renowned knowledge institutions and innovative companies. And though Ghentians are known for being rebellious and pioneering, we leave no one behind. We look out for each other and do all we can to build this city together.

  • Acrobate onder stadshal Gentse Feesten

  • Our way

    Ghent is a proud city that has always marched to the beat of its own drum. A city where you can be who you are, where there is room to think differently and plot your own course. We’re not afraid to swim against the current if we believe we’re headed in the right direction. It’s no coincidence that Ghent was crowned the veggie capital of Belgium and Europe’s first car-sharing city.

    Read more about the Ghent character

  • Stadspromotie dit is Gent

All eyes on Ghent

  • EYC 2024

    All power to the youngsters in the Youth Capital of Europe! With more than 400 activities and projects on the program, young Ghentians get their rocks off in 2024.

    Read more
    EYC jongeren in de Krook

  • Candidate Capital of Culture

    We’re already proud owners of the UNESCO-label ‘Creative City of Music’. Can we add the title of European Capital of Culture? Hundreds of Ghentians are already teaming up for 2030. 

    Read more
    Gent 2030

  • Climate city

    Futureproof buildings, renewable energy, sustainable food, circular economy, urban green, clean mobility,… This is how we turn Ghent into a climate-neutral city by 2050.

    Read more
    Een van de promotionele beelden van het klimaatplan van de Stad Gent

Need material to promote Ghent? Use our toolbox.
 

Need advice or support in promoting Ghent?

Send us an email: stadspromotie@stad.gent

Need advice?

stadspromotie@stad.gent

Other useful contacts

On the radar

  • Sorry, not sorry

    'All things street art' are at the centre of this festival. On May 18 and 19 2024 the neighbourhood Moscou-Vogelhoek-Flora turns into a great big canvas for young artists and organisations. The program offers a variety of visual arts, demo's, workshops and info sessions.

    Read more

     

     

    Merk Gent - graffiti

  • Velo-city

    Bike-lovers from over the world: unite! The 43th edition of the annual 'Velo-city'-summit takes place in bicycle-town Ghent. From June 18 to June 21 2024 fans, designers, producers and policymakers saddle up for workshops, talks, demo's, expo's... and a huge bike parade. 

    Read more

     

    Fietsen Keizerbrug Gent

  • Circômplex

    Soap made from coffee grounds, upcycled book bags for rent, washing machines to share… Innovative start-ups spring up like mushrooms in Ghent. Circômplex brings together circular pioneers under one roof at the old Vynckier site, a former cotton mill.

    Read more

     

    Circomplex

  • Ghent’s also a great place
    to visit, study and invest