Ghent is a historic city, yet at the same time a contemporary one. The modern daily life of the city's active inhabitants plays itself out against a gorgeous historical backdrop. Visiting Ghent means strolling through European political but also cultural history. It is here that the unsurpassed altar piece The Mystic Lamb was painted. Ghent artists and scientists have spread their city's fame throughout the world. If you're hunting for hidden treasures, this is it. The city is alive and bids you welcome.
The most important sights in Ghent are St Bavo's Cathedral, with the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, the Castle of the Counts, the Graslei and the Korenlei.
The most important shopping streets are Veldstraat, Zonnestraat, Brabantdam, Koestraat, Mageleinstraat, Donkersteeg and Lange Munt.
There is a mapped walk around the city that takes about 2 hours. The map is free from the information office underneath the Belfry.
For all information : www.visitgent.be
The conference will take place at Muziekcentrum (Musiccenter) De Bijloke and the Hogeschool (Polytechnic)
Address: J. Kluyskensstraat 2, 9000 Gent
Grotere kaart weergeven
The Bijloke site is an oasis of greenery close to the city centre of Ghent.
For a long time its main activity was caring for the sick, but now it will be a superb haven for culture on the banks of the River Leie.
Caring for the sick was the main activity on the Bijloke site for seven centuries.
This all changed a quarter of a century ago when it lost its role as a hospital and
Ghent Polytechnic decided to house its main administrative offices, the Academy (Art) Department and
part of the Conservatory (Music) Department in this former Civilian Hospital. On the initiative of Ghent
City Council, they were followed by numerous other cultural activities and organisations:
the Musiccenter Bijloke,
Kunstwerk(t), IBK (Initiatief Beeldende Kunst/ Visual Arts Initiative), IAK (Initiatief Audiovisuele Kunst /
Audiovisual Arts Initiative), the Flemish Community Belgian Mediadesk, Circusvlo, Gent Cultuurstad (
Ghent Heritage Unit), Flanders OperaStudio and VLAMO (Flemish amateur music organisation).
This process will be completed in 2010 when a number of building projects are finished.
By that time the STAM and the accommodation for Het Muziek Lod and Les Ballets C. de la B. will be operational.
The re-laying of the inner area will create a linking element between the various activities.
Click here to see the (future) lay-out.
Ghent is located on the intersection of two major European motorways: the E17 connects Northern Europe to the South, and the E40 runs from the North Sea right across to Eastern Europe. From the E17 you take the 'Gent Centrum' turnoff. On the E40, from the motorway intersection in Zwijnaarde you first follow 'Antwerpen' (E17)and then take the 'Gent Centrum' turnoff. Keep right and follow "andere richtingen". Once you have come down, turn left at the traffic lights, under the bridge. Now you are on the beltway around Ghent. Follow it into the direction of Eeklo. Turn right at the fourth traffic lights. Keep continuing and you will see the Bijlokesite at your right. There is plenty of parking space in the immediate vicinity.
By public transportGhent is easy to reach by train from all Belgian and European cities and is only half an hour from Brussels South Station (by 'IC' Inter City or 'IR' InterRegio train). The main station in Ghent is Gent-Sint-Pieters Station, about 15 minutes' walk from the Bijlokesite.
By airGhent is only 45 minutes from the international airport ofZaventem 'Brussel Airport'. On the lowest level you will find the airport's own railway station, Brussel-Nationaal-Luchthaven, accessible by lift and escalator from the arrivals hall. There are several connections to Ghent. Brussels South/Charleroi airport is 70 minutes from Ghent. There are more than 20 bus connections from the airport to the capital every day. From there frequent train connections to Ghent are available. There are also bus connections from the airport to Charleroi-Sud railway station. Trains for Ghent can also be boarded there. A ticket that combines the bus and train services can be purchased at the Airport Ticket Desk.
Trams and busses in Ghent to the BijlokeFrom Gent-Sint-Pieters Station : tram 1 (stop Charles De Kerckhovelaan), trams 21 and 22 (stop Bijlokehof), tram 4 (stop Bijlokehof) and bus 6 (stop Jozef Kluyskensstraat). You can request a free network map at the Lijnwinkel, located at the main bus terminals: near Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station and at Gent-Zuid (Ghent South). This network map is also available at the information desk in the Tourist Centre. Buy a bus or tram card beforehand at newspaper shops or supermarkets, in the Lijnwinkel or at any of the automatic dispensers located at most bus stops. This way you pay up to 50 percent less than when you pay on the bus or tram itself.