The factor that stunned me most about visiting Ghent was that extra households haven’t found it already – as a result of from its citadel to its canals, chocolate, avenue artwork and historical past, there are such a lot of issues to do in Ghent with youngsters.
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Round half an hour from Brussels by practice, Ghent – or Gent to make use of the Flemish spelling – can be simply over half an hour from Bruges, so it’s not solely a improbable place for a metropolis break in Belgium with youngsters, it’s an ideal base to discover the nation extra extensively.
And whereas I’ve been to each Brussels and Bruges earlier than, Ghent completely received me over: if you happen to’re making an attempt to resolve whether or not to go to Bruges or Ghent with youngsters, nevertheless fairly the previous, I’d choose the latter. Though see if you happen to can slot in a day journey to Bruges as nicely, as we did.
Gravensteen citadel
Simply one my daughter’s favorite issues to do in Ghent, the Citadel of the Counts is simply on the sting of the historic coronary heart of town – head round to see it mirrored within the water earlier than you cross by way of the stone arch to get in.
There are shows in among the rooms as you wander round, together with just a few probabilities to get palms on, however what actually made the go to was the audio information, narrated by an area comic, Wouter Deprez.
As we wandered by way of draughty stone chambers and out onto the roof of 1 tower, earlier than strolling across the partitions, he advised tales of the citadel’s inhabitants, from the world’s first notable knights to the person behind the Gravensteen.
Alongside the way in which, we found a sword greater than my daughter (most likely greater than me – how might anybody raise that?!), the invention of the chimney, views down onto Ghent itself, and a harp begging to be strummed.
However the spotlight for my daughter was the most recent in twelfth century open air bathrooms: two holes dropping into the moat and an image painted by the audioguide of the assembled peasantry applauding from the opposite aspect of the water when their lord wanted to make use of them.
For those who’re visiting with youthful youngsters, there are one or two moments afterward within the audio information with extra ugly tales and one or two ‘naughty phrases’ as I advised my intrigued seven-year-old as we skipped one small part of commentary.
There’s additionally a torture chamber, though it’s straightforward to bypass that room, and it’s dealt with very nicely – one of many rooms earlier than, with a very nasty medieval interrogation gadget was extra specific however youngsters who can deal with Horrible Histories usually tend to lap it up than get nightmares.
We got a Gent Metropolis Card for our go to, which included free entry into the citadel – entry can be free for youngsters underneath 12, and is simply a few euros for teenagers, together with the audioguide. You can also purchase tickets on-line prematurely
MSK Gent – Museum of Tremendous Arts
Even when your youngsters don’t usually get pleasure from visiting artwork galleries, I’d make an exception for MSK Gent, which has some impressively family-friendly actions to assist get pleasure from its 40 galleries.
House to large names together with Previous Masters from Hieronymus Bosch and Rubens to van Dijk, plus extra trendy artists together with Rodin and Magritte – to call just a few – there are work from the 14th to twentieth centuries, in addition to different artworks, together with sculpture.
After we visited, Ghent was celebrating Jan Van Eyck, whose well-known Ghent Altarpiece – in any other case referred to as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb – has been on show within the cathedral for hundreds of years with a particular exhibition, together with a booklet for youths with a stamp path, concepts for them to attract, objects to identify and extra.
My daughter had taken pens and paper to hone her personal creative abilities… with employees solely asking very politely that she didn’t level her felt suggestions AT the artwork work. As my blood ran chilly on the very thought, I promised faithfully that she wouldn’t.
Together with an audio information for adults, there’s a model for youths – each simply must be pointed on the symbols on the wall to activate every part.
The youngsters’ model is marked by a pigeon image: it was solely about two days later than my daughter corrected my assumption {that a} pigeon narrated it – apparently Van Eyck himself was doing her commentary.
So whereas we moved by way of the rooms barely quicker than I might have finished alone, it was no less than partly as a result of my daughter was eager to see what was subsequent reasonably than bored and longing to flee.
It’s an introduction too to simply how essential Flanders was within the Center Ages, particularly Ghent, when the Dukes of Burgundy dominated.
All in all, a go to to MSK with youngsters is a stunning mixture of getting them to work together with the artworks and different items on show, inspiring them to get inventive.
Entry to the everlasting assortment is free for underneath 18s and included within the CityCard Gent for adults.
Observe the road artwork path
Inform my daughter we’re going for a stroll round a metropolis and the boredom units in earlier than she places her sneakers on. Inform her we’ve received a path to observe and he or she’s first out of the door – and when it’s quirky avenue artwork, that’s a lot the higher.
Go to Gent has put collectively a collection of avenue artwork trails – in addition to the Sorry Not Sorry competition – which takes you throughout town recognizing items by completely different artists. There’s a child-friendly avenue artwork stroll, a metropolis stroll and Van Eyck avenue artwork stroll amongst others.
On a distinctly windy gray February day, we caught to recognizing round half a dozen of them not removed from the citadel and the Design Museum, strolling across the Patershol space and again into the centre.
It’s a good way to see greater than the picturesque historic coronary heart, and it’s straightforward to wander alongside the canalside for a part of it too – a few of our favourites had been by Cee Pil, a mix of two animals collectively together with one which was half bear, half lion.
However the place else might you uncover a melting rhino, ROA’s large black rabbits and Bart Smeets’ graffiti mural of the Ghent altarpiece, trying as if the aspect of the constructing is being peeled away to disclose the secrets and techniques inside – and that was solely a small style.
One factor you received’t discover a lot of is graffiti, versus avenue artwork. And that’s as a result of it’s all tucked away in Graffiti Avenue – Werregarenstraat, or the ‘tolerance zone’ of the map.
Right here, something goes so you would discover an sudden treasure, or a string of brightly colored tags: every so often, it’s painted over to offer a clean canvas.
Take a ship tour
Whenever you’re visiting a metropolis set on canals, a ship tour needs to be on the record – we’ve finished them in Amsterdam and Copenhagen and had it on our record for our day journey to Bruges.
Not simply a great way to relaxation any drained legs, I like sitting again and watching the outdated buildings from the water and in Ghent, you may observe a loop which takes you across the metropolis, previous Graslei and across the Gravensteen citadel.
There are hop on, hop off variations (together with a water taxi in the course of the summer season months) though as Ghent isn’t enormous, many of the boat excursions solely final round 40-50 minutes.
In February, once we visited, among the lined boats had been nonetheless working – however as certainly one of this spring’s storms approached, we determined to postpone our personal deliberate boat journey to a different time.
You too can purchase tickets for the completely different boat journeys on websites like Viator whereas Get Your Information features a 40-minute journey in addition to a 50-minute cruise, each with commentary. A ship journey can be included within the Gent CityCard.
Stroll across the outdated city
Ghent is the form of metropolis the place you need to make time to walk round. It’s very walkable – we had been staying barely exterior the centre, so the buses got here in very useful to get there and to MSK, in addition to to and from the practice station, however in any other case we simply wandered wherever we needed to go.
As a result of it’s very very fairly: within the centre, you may spot the tall medieval buildings from town’s heyday but it surely’s nonetheless a residing metropolis reasonably than frozen in a bubble.
Bikes whizz alongside the cobbled streets (so be careful!) and that avenue artwork offers it a little bit of an edge, whilst you’re as more likely to see college students hanging out as vacationers.
We ambled up the canalside from MSK and town museum in the direction of Graslei in addition to wandering by way of the outdated streets, however frankly you would simply choose a course and stroll.
One factor to not miss is a stroll throughout St Michael’s Bridge, the place you may see the three towers of St Nicholas’ church, the Belfry and the cathedral in a line, earlier than heading alongside Graslei and into the Korenmarkt.
We noticed a person blowing large bubbles right here, which entertained my daughter as I gazed on the structure, and you’ll simply choose up a waffle to go to maintain you fuelled up as you wander.
Climb the belfry
You’ll spot the Belfry of Ghent – or Het Belfort – reverse the cathedral, and even if you happen to resolve to not climb up, look out for the dragon on the very high.
A whopping 91m tall, it was town watchtower from the fifteenth century and guarded a few of Ghent’s treasures as nicely, though the large alarm bell which it as soon as housed is now on Emile Braunplein.
Wander previous on a Sunday morning, between 11am and midday and you’ll nonetheless hear the carillion ringing out. There’s a Little Information for youths underneath eight if you’re going inside too.
For those who don’t fancy climbing over 350 steps to see the view, there’s a raise from the primary ground as nicely.
You possibly can purchase skip-the-line tickets on-line prematurely, and it’s free for under-12s, solely a few Euros for under-18s. Included within the CityCard for Ghent.
Go to St Bavo’s cathedral
House to the well-known Ghent Altarpiece, the cathedral itself is astonishing – enormous hovering arched ceiling, stunning embellished aspect chapels and a really intricately embellished pulpit.
I used to be a bit unhappy to find that the whale which was as soon as in show in the cathedral appears to have moved on, but it surely’s a wonderful constructing to stroll round.
It’s free to enter, and other than Sunday morning when it’s closed apart from worship, you may wander in at any level throughout opening hours.
There’s an additional price to see the Van Eyck panels, and a Ghent altarpiece AR tour on provide, however in any other case it’s free.
Wander alongside the canals
Ghent’s canals date again to its medieval heyday when a water route from town’s river to the ocean was important for the commerce between Flanders and the remainder of Europe.
Lately, there are extra pleasure boats cruising alongside the waterways but it surely’s one of many issues which makes town such a stunning place to wander round.
Whether or not you’re taking one of many metropolis boat journeys, following the road artwork path or simply fancy ambling round within the sunshine, take a while to observe the water, cross over little bridges and be careful for the sudden canal-front buildings and quirky particulars.
Stadsmuseum – STAM Ghent metropolis museum
To get a way of Ghent’s lengthy historical past, pay a go to to the metropolis museum within the south of town, not removed from the MSK artwork gallery.
Set within the buildings of a 14th century abbey and seventeenth century convent, in addition to a contemporary extension, it’s a wander by way of time as nicely.
As we didn’t have lengthy to spend, we turned down the audio information – there’s no particular one geared toward youngsters right here – however this may need been a mistake as there are restricted indicators in English.
EDIT: There’s now a youngsters’s path obtainable, designed to be extra interactive for youthful guests
There have been few notable baby pleasant features although: there’s a Lego desk on the finish to create your individual buildings and some extra interactive sections.
However because it’s free with the Gent card, it’s value a fast go searching – for adults, it offers you an excellent background in regards to the metropolis from its early days on.
For youths, there are sufficient highlights to be value a wander too particularly on a wet day in Ghent, beginning with an enormous aerial map of town on the ground, which you’ll be able to stroll on whereas carrying protecting overshoes.
There’s some royal historical past, in addition to a historic tomb moved to the outdated refectory, and numerous shows of things starting from merchandise made in Ghent to royal portraits, and a copy of the Ghent Altarpiece too, for an opportunity to see the entire thing shut up.
Among the best rooms was the give attention to the work’s lacking panel: stolen within the 30s (together with one other which was recovered) it has by no means been discovered.
The room has headphones to hearken to the story and is ready up nearly like a recreation of the police investigation – one part the place I might have fortunately hung round for longer if we’d had probability.
Entry is free for under-18s, and included within the Ghent Metropolis Card
Design museum
You don’t should be a design aficionado to get pleasure from wandering across the Design Museum in Ghent.
And whereas the non permanent exhibitions and fundamental assortment are more likely to attraction extra to teenagers and adults than youthful youngsters, they’ve give you a intelligent technique to make it child-friendly: a Playmobil path across the museum.
Just a few of the rooms had been closed whereas we visited, however armed along with her booklet and a pencil, my daughter scampered by way of the three completely different flooring (and a few different rooms) searching down the little collectible figurines to win her prize of a badge.
My husband, in the meantime, received to walk extra slowly, absorbing among the improbable items on show – and among the ornate ornament and brilliant colors of the retro 50s items attraction to all ages.
One other nice choice if you happen to’re visiting Ghent with youngsters in winter: it labored properly as a cease as we adopted a part of the road artwork path.
Free for under-18s and with the Ghent CityCard.
Eat cuberdons
Tasting this conventional Ghent candy – often known as ‘little noses’ was on my record earlier than we left, however whereas we managed various different candy treats within the metropolis, we missed our probability to attempt these first time spherical. I made up for it on our second go to and wasn’t upset.
The triangular purple sweets have a tough outer shell and are gooey inside. The unique candy raspberry flavour has been joined with a string of different fruity variations (plus chocolate ones).
They don’t final lengthy as soon as they’re made, so seize a bag and scoff them reasonably than taking them dwelling to eat weeks later.
We did spy one or two stalls on the road, however having left it to a cold February Sunday, we rapidly realised that we’d missed our probability as most had been closed up – in summer season, I think you’d haven’t any probability shopping for a bag, and we discovered loads on provide across the Christmas market in December.
You too can take a look at a few of Ghent’s candy outlets, together with The Sweet Nook close to the Vleeshuisbrug – the bridge that leads from the streets close to the Korenmarkt to the citadel.
Or just a little additional alongside the water, one other conventional sweetshop, Confiserie Temmerman is on Kraanlei.
Have some chocolate
Whilst you shouldn’t miss making an attempt cuberdons, it’s chocolate that most individuals consider after they consider Belgium – and for good purpose. Melted on waffles or crammed with praline, you received’t be wanting choices.
Wander across the outdated centre and also you’ll discover limitless cafes serving waffles in addition to chocolate outlets a truffle’s throw away from you, wherever you’re standing.
In order for you much more, Mayana Chocoladebar is a restaurant targeted solely round chocolate, whereas Huize Colette is a chocolate bar and e book cafe – two of my favorite issues in a single.
You possibly can even take a guided chocolate tour stopping at eight completely different chocolatiers as you discover.
St Peter’s abbey and winery
An ideal place for sunny days with youngsters in Ghent, this historic abbey – which dates again to the seventh century – has attractive gardens to wander round in addition to its personal winery.
You too can wander by way of among the outdated abbey buildings, together with the medieval eating corridor and church, plus the cloisters, and there’s a everlasting exhibition referred to as ‘Between Heaven and Earth’.
If that every one sounds a bit boring with youngsters, there’s a digital homicide thriller to entertain with a 90-minute information geared toward youngsters aged 10 and up.
Led by digital monk Jean-François Alison who’s looking for the killer of his younger pal, the 17 episodes lead you from one a part of the abbey to a different.
Entry to the abbey is free with a Gent CityCard (and for under-13s), however doesn’t embrace the film information which prices 4 Euros. The abbey is closed on Mondays.
Ghent Botanic Gardens
One other pretty place to get outside in Ghent with youngsters, the Botanic Gardens are hooked up to the College of Gent they usually’re free to go to so it’s straightforward to wander by way of and eye up the completely different crops.
It’s near the MSK high-quality artwork museum – and there’s the Citadelpark reverse too – in case you want someplace to burn off vitality after wandering round Previous Masters.
The gardens additionally embrace a tropical and subtropical greenhouse, with over 10,000 completely different sorts of crops to have a look at. Open day by day however solely within the morning at weekends.
Home of Alijn
The Home of Alijn is one other uncommon spot with a give attention to life because it was in Ghent in the course of the twentieth century – a museum of on a regular basis life.
The little museum was as soon as the ‘Kids of Alijn hospice’, the one almshouse that’s been preserved within the metropolis. Now it’s an opportunity to step again into the previous, with a number of interactive touches, proper all the way down to smelling outdated washing detergent.
For individuals who grew up in Belgium, it’s a visit down reminiscence lane – I can think about this being highly regarded with grandparents visiting with their grandchildren.
However even if you happen to didn’t, there are many enjoyable conventional touches like the possibility to dip right into a dressing up field or look by way of outdated pictures, in addition to basic video games like hopscotch.
Free for youngsters, however in any other case that is one museum which isn’t included within the Gent CityCard.
For extra concepts of issues to do in Ghent with youngsters, take a look at the vacationer board’s web site with suggestions for ‘little dragons’, together with the enjoyable digital path, Discover Fosfor the Dragon’s Glasses, geared toward 5 to 12-year-olds
The place to eat with youngsters in Ghent
For those who’re searching for locations to eat in Ghent with youngsters, you received’t be wanting choices, whether or not you fancy extra conventional Flemish meals or if – like me – you’re travelling with a reasonably fussier small companion.
Meme Gusta is an efficient choice for conventional native dishes or if you happen to’re searching for a child-friendly different (even when it’s not desperately Flemish), Eat Love Pizza close to the canal was nice – there’s a youngsters menu (they usually fortunately tailored the essential margherita with some extras for my daughter) plus the included basket of waffles for dessert was so large that I used to be compelled to assist.
The identical goes for Manhattn’s Burgers on Graslei – very pleasant employees, who fortunately took all of the extras off to offer my daughter a really plain rooster burger, and whipped up a scrumptious one with a number of trimmings for me in its brioche bun. Get the truffle mayo along with your fries too.
Not precisely historically Flemish however after a chilly Sunday exploring within the wind, that they had blond beer, fast, pleasant service, and though it was proper on Graslei, it didn’t really feel massively touristy.
If in case you have time, you can even uncover extra about Belgian beer than simply ordering the odd glass with a go to to the Ghent Gruut Brewery – or Gentse Gruut Stadsbrouwerij. There’s a youngsters’ play space and you’ll pattern beer flights in addition to taking a tour.
It’s value realizing that the Holy Meals Market, with numerous stalls serving completely different meals, and which seemed like an ideal choice with youngsters, has now closed.
The place to remain in Ghent with youngsters
We stayed at Aparthotel Castelnou which is a brief stroll from the historic centre – splendid for households as there’s a small kitchen with fridge and hobs to self-cater, in addition to a eating desk and residing house.
Breakfast is included and there’s a restaurant within the resort if you’d like lunch/dinner too, though we tended to eat out at lunchtime and have one thing in our room within the night.
Don’t count on quirky trendy decor however we had every part we wanted: the beds had been very comfortable after days strolling round Ghent, and we discovered all of the necessities within the lavatory – there was even a shower, which appears rarer and rarer in inns as of late.
With separate residing house, there’s a number of room to unfold out – that is the place additional beds are put as nicely however even with my daughter’s mattress added, it wasn’t cramped.
The aparthotel is barely exterior the centre but it surely’s very straightforward to get round. A number of bus routes run from Gent Sint-Pieters stations (the principle practice station in Ghent, the place can join utilizing Eurostar tickets) in addition to into the centre, down in the direction of MSK and over to Graffiti Avenue.
You possibly can e book by way of Reserving.com right here
For those who’re staying in summer season, it will be a stunning stroll alongside the canal to get to most locations you’d wish to go to. In February, once we didn’t fancy an excessive amount of hanging round within the chilly, there have been half a dozen bus routes whisking us wherever we would wish to go.
Obtain the DeLijn app which has a route planner and offers correct occasions of when the subsequent buses or trams will arrive. You too can purchase tickets utilizing the app for much less, if you happen to don’t have a Gent CityCard. Ghent has a low emission zone, so if you happen to do wish to drive, you’ll pay a price to take action.
If you wish to be within the coronary heart of town, you can even discover a number of chains within the metropolis centre, together with the Novotel Gent Centrum which has rooms with house for households, in addition to the quirky Comedian Artwork Resort not removed from Gravensteen Citadel.
For extra Belgium household journey inspiration take a look at my choose of the very best issues to do in Bruges with youngsters, the highest issues to do in Brussels with youngsters and issues to do in Antwerp with youngsters
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN GHENT WITH KIDS
Disclosure: We had been supplied with free Go to Gent playing cards and lodging at Aparthotel Castelnou by Go to Gent and Go to Flanders throughout our first go to. I paid for our Eurostar tickets and all meals and beloved it a lot we got here again at our personal expense. Our alternative of issues to do in Ghent was my very own – though my daughter insisted on there being waffles. Incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee.
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