The Top Museums to Visit in Ghent
Known as a thriving hub of culture these days, historic Ghent has several museums up its sleeve that are worth wandering around in for hours on end. These seven run the gamut from a daring temple for contemporary art to a low-key chamber museum honouring the everyday.
1. MSK, the museum of fine arts
Museum
Tuesdays to Fridays from 9:30am to 5:30pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays.
2. STAM, the city museum
Museum
Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
3. The House of Alijn
Providing a counterbalance to the bird’s-eye view that the STAM provides, the more peculiar House of Alijn zooms in on the little things that make up everyday life. The rooms of a 14th-century children’s hospital have been transformed into authentic old shops, living rooms and a traditional puppet theatre that still puts on shows. It’s where to go to get a glimpse of how Gentenaars lived their lives in the 20th century, before the Internet or smartphones were around, when family pictures were still coloured sepia and home videos had clumsy dads’ wielding the camera. The place has a lovely courtyard and an old-fashioned Flemish café that serves Belgian beers.
Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
5. S.M.A.K., the museum for contemporary art
Museum, Park
Probably Ghent’s best-known museum, the S.M.A.K. hasn’t been afraid to rock the boat – literally and figuratively. In 2007, the museum for contemporary art closed its doors to break out some walls to be able to house a pirate ship and other monumental works for Paul McCarthy’s oeuvre restrospective. The wilful house of art originally opened in the Citadel Park with a boxing match, and has purposefully faded the boundaries between museum and city by putting in exhibits in the public space. In mid-2017, a refugee camp was put up in its white halls between art pieces by the Cobra movement. The whole thing was curated by illusive Swiss artist Christoph Büchel without too much publicity, and 12 refugees lived and worked in the museum for months on end.
Tuesdays to Fridays from 9:30am to 5:30pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays.
6. Dr. Guislain Museum
Museum
Tuesdays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays to Sundays from 1pm to 5pm. Closed on Mondays.
7. Design Museum
Museum
Mondays to Fridays from 9:30am to 5:30pm and Saturdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
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