Walk Local with Bieke Depoorter

“Enjoy the silence” is a unique walk that really comes into its own after sunset. Experience the wonderfully lit city of Ghent through the eyes of Bieke Depoorter. 

Bieke Depoorter (1986) is an award-winning Ghent photographer and member of the famous photographic cooperative Magnum, founded in 1947 by Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson, among others. Bieke has won several awards such as the Magnum Expression Award, The Larry Sultan Award and Prix Levallois. In these four books – Ou Menya, I am About to Call it a Day, As it May Be, and Sète #15 – you can admire her evocative photographs.

13.5 km - 21.000 steps

This visual voyage of discovery through Ghent is also a journey through time for me. I am taking you to a few places that mean a great deal to me. The walk starts in the city centre, near the former Academy of Fine Arts from which I graduated. At Graslei and Korenlei you can admire some magnificent façades reflected in the river Lys.  After crossing the river Lys, you pass Appelbrugparkje, a hidden green oasis in the heart of the city. After passing the Castle of the Counts, you arrive at the Patershol neighbourhood via Kraanlei and Oudburg. Then cross the Zuivelbrug bridge and discover another historic part of Ghent, parallel to Oudburg. Here you will see former factory buildings dating from the 18th century, now converted into a hotel and youth centre. Fancy a cocktail? Jigger’s, one of Ghent’s best-known cocktail bars, has a menu I’m a huge fan of! Stroll through Patershol and imagine yourself in the Middle Ages. It can get a bit spooky!  You’re now leaving Ghent’s historical centre and head northwards, passing the wonderful weeping willows at Lievekaai. When I was a student, I often came to study here. Now take Sint-Antoniuskaai to go to the working-class area of Rabot, which is ‘guarded’ by two 15th-century towers.

Via Sleepstraat, a street full of wonderful restaurants and shops, you will reach the Muide neighbourhood, where you will discover the eye-catching Loods 22 building in Voorhavenlaan. No time to lose! Via the recently created Kapitein Zeppos park with its gigantic beach (!), you will end up at the strip between Houtdok and Dampoort is the hotspot for cyclists and hikers. Once you have arrived at Dampoort, enter the trendy Portus Ganda area. Here you can enjoy the panoramic view with a bottle of delicious wine from A Taste Affair! You will pass several parks: Coyendanspark, Astridpark, Bijgaardepark, Arbedpark & Keizerpark. Always eat your greens & love your parks. Admire the skateboarders or return to the city centrum via Visserij.