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The design and architecture freaks really get their money's worth here, a walk with attention to the visual, creative and culinary. Versatile Ghent at its best.

Fien and Hannes - internationally renowned design couple

Design is poetry and Fien Muller (1978) and Hannes van Severen (1979) translate that perfectly under Muller Van Severen. Their design furniture not only adds a visual, but also an architectural dimension to a space. Almost 10 years after the creation of Muller Van Severen, the couple belongs to one of the most defining European design teams. They have won several awards and collaborated with prestigious museums (including the Vitra Museum, Centre Pompidou and Musée d'Art Décorative Paris) and art galleries (KREO Galerie, Side Gallery, Valerie Traan Gallery). Recently they gave colour to the modernist Villa Cavrois with a rigorous selection of furniture and objects from their own oeuvre.

Walk a mile in my shoes

8,1 km - 10700 steps

You can spend the night in the Dampoort district at B&B Dreams - guesthouse of coffee bar Clouds in my Coffee - filled with design objects and colourful interior elements. Head in the clouds... literally! Step in the early morning through awakening Ghent towards coffee bar Bar Bidon, located at the recently renovated Reep, a delicious spot for topnotch coffee.

Stroll through the bumpy streets of the old city centre past the impressive St Bavo's Cathedral. A little further on, in the Gouvernementstraat, you'll find the furniture gallery of interior designer and gallerist Frederic Hooft, where you can admire atypical design. Nearby is also Patricia Vintage, for vintage fashion pieces from Chanel to Prada. Walk a little further, cross the Brabantdam, via the cosy Walpoortstraat and head towards the green oasis of the Citadelpark. Don't forget: visit the S.M.A.K. or their neighbour, the Museum of Fine Arts.

Dive back into the centre via the Bijlokekaai (enjoy the view along the way with the many stately houses on the Leie), all the way to the art bookshop Copyright. The nearby Design Museum Ghent is a must visit as well. We certainly recommend everyone to pop into the gallery Muller J (Fien's nephew), in the shadow of the Castle of the Counts. Done with your sightseeing and shopping day? Enjoy the refined Thai cuisine at Aroy Aroy, then end your day with a glass of wine at Café Ventura. An obligatory - dare we say iconic - stop for a lot of Ghent people.

Walk Local

First date with our city? Here you can discover all the Walk Local walks that reveal a bunch of hidden gems in our city. Easy to follow and full of surprising suggestions.

Discover all the Walk Local walks here