Ghent is a creative city and known in Belgium known for it’s cultural venues and start-up companies. But there is also a less official art scene: the one of street art and graffiti.
All over Ghent, you can find walls covered in colors and “paintings”. Some works are mere tags, others are true artistic pieces that make you stop to look twice.
Translation: “It’s not the fabric on a woman’s head that holds her down… The truth is always covered with a veil.” (In Dutch it rhymes)
Street Art Belgium has created an entire walking tour along some of Ghent’s best street art. You can get a map of the Concrete Canvas Tour at the Tourist Information Point, at cultural center Vooruit or in shops Zimba and Dope. You can also download the tour on the website of VisitGent.
Graffiti at the Werregarenstraatje
I actually wanted to do this tour when I was visiting Ghent last week, but I’d planned so many other things as well that in the end I simply didn’t have time left. However, I did go to the Werregarenstraatje, a little alley with walls entirely covered in graffiti.
Graffiti at the Tweebruggenstraat
Later in the day, when it was dark already, I lucked and stumbled upon the Tweebruggenstraat. The works that you see here weren’t created secretively. They came about during the 9th Graffiti Jam, organized by the Graffiti Youth Council and the Department of Local Prevention and Safety of the city of Ghent.
Ghent tries to have a balanced policy when it comes to graffiti. That policy consists of three pillars:
- The city tries to track people who are responsible for graffiti in places where it isn’t allowed and forces them to pay for the removal of the works.
- The city offers free removal of graffiti on both private and public properties if the owners ask for it.
- There are certain areas in the city where graffiti is allowed and people can always suggest new graffiti walls.
Next time I’m in Ghent, I’m definitely doing the Concrete Canvas Tour and when I do, I’m sharing the photos here.
Where to stay in Ghent
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Hannah Wasielewski says
I absolutely love street art! Sometimes it can get out of hand, but there are many cities that it looks great on. When I was in Valparaiso in Chile, the city is known for being very colorful. One day the city noticed the buildings were losing a lot of color and decided to have a street art festival, bringing color back to the city! I love it!
Sofie says
That’s such a cool idea! I agree that it can either take a lot from a city, or add a lot to it depending on how it’s done and how the city deals with it. In Ghent, they seem to be doing it well:)
Katie @WorldWideVegetarian.com says
I am a big fan of street art, legal or otherwise. I had no idea that there were legal outlets in Ghent showcasing such beautiful work! I think that all cities, especially dark, grey northern cities should embrace the work of talented street artists, well done murals can really bring some livelihood to a place! I’d love to go back and visit Ghent the next time I am in Europe.
Thanks for sharing,
Katie
Tim | UrbanDuniya says
I <3 street art! I don't know how it compares, but my city of Melbourne is often spoken about as a great street art city of the world. You must visit some time!!
Sofie says
I must!
It’s on the list, but Australia is just so expensive:/
kami says
I was in Ghent 8 or so years ago and that’s definitely not how I remember the city! I so need to return as it looks like my kind of place on your pics!
Sofie says
You should go back! :)
Cyra | Gastronomic Nomad says
Great! I love street art – I hate seeing vandalism, but if paintings are planned and well thought out, legal or not, I don’t consider this vanadlism. It can really bring character to a city, or even just a neighbourhood of a city. Valencia in Spain has one neighbourhood with great street art, Barrio Carmen, I’m not sure if it’s a legal arrangement but it’s super cool. Definitely check it out if you ever go to Valencia.
Sofie says
Hey Cyra!
I’m actually hoping to get to Valencia next year, so I’ll keep that in mind.
Thanks for the tip!
kim a hazel says
I love Gent — more than Brugge — and will be back there for the first time in eight years in Sept 2015. I don’t remember any street art in Gent back then either. As for Valencia, I was there last year and it is outrageous for the amount of street art. You see it around every corner and on many garage doors. Valencia is the city that made me fall IN LOVE with street art!
Sofie says
Hey Kim, I prefer Ghent to Bruges as well. It’s more “alive” and the tourist attractions are mixed in with the “actual” city, while the center of Bruges seems to a bit to be solely there for the tourists.
vısıter says
ı can say ım acctually lıvıng ın belgıum. ı went that area before ım wrıter also. and ı wanna do some pıevce there. but ı wanna learn that how can ı do ıt there. when ı was there almöost all wall was fulled. can ı just paınt over on them or ı have to do somethıng to paınt there :S ı just wrote on google and ı found thıs page and thought maybe you guys have somethıng about that. thank you verymuch
Sofie says
Hi,
I’m afraid I can’t help you a lot with that. Better to get in touch with a graffiti artist. What I do know is that graffiti in public spaces is essentially illegal in Belgium. You can only do it on houses and other buildings if you’ve gotten permission from the owner.