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Water stories

The history of Ghent along the water
Illustration of Amandus, Jan Van Eyck, Lieven Bauwens and a rowing race on the Watersportbaan
©VisitGent

The Great Butcher's Hall is undergoing major maintenance. Restoration is in full swing, and its doors will reopen by 2026. Exciting!

Meanwhile, giant drawings are appearing on the waterfront - new ones each time the scaffolding shifts. They depict episodes from Ghent's history that took place on or in the water. From the dunking of Saint Amandus to Gantoise champion, read all about them below.

630 - Saint Amandus ends up in the river

How Ghent began with a saint being plunged into water
Illustration of Saint Amandus being thrown into the Leie in 630.

1432 -The Ghent Altarpiece - an ocean in a drop

Why we’ll never run out of things to say about Van Eyck
Illustration of Jan Van Eyck painting the realistic water droplets on the Ghent Altarpiece

1566 / It's snowing letters in the Lys

The Iconoclastic Fury through the eyes of a citizen of Ghent
Illustration of floating books that were thrown into the water in Ghent during the Beeldenstorm

1798 -A Hero Who Fell off His Pedestal

Lieven Bauwens: industrial spy and ruthless businessman
Illustration of parts of the Mule Jenny floating in boxes on the water

1827 / We definitely want Willem!

The festive launch of the Port of Ghent
Illustration of a large sailing ship on the water

1843 / Who's sailing with us to Verapaz?

The Ghent fortune seekers of the Muide
Illustration of a pig in a swimming ring on the water with a signpost to Verapaz

1850 / Louis and the giant water lily

How Ghent grew into the flower city of Europe
Illustration of a large green giant water lily on the water

1861 - The invention of waterzooi

A piece of history in your bowl
Illustration of a Ghent Waterzooi plate floating on the water

1930 - The Match of the Century

Ghent’s rowers smash records – and the tram accompanies them
Illustration of a man in the water encouraging the rowers with a loudspeaker

2003 - Walter's boat

A dose of craftsmanship and a lot of ambition: the story of the Ghent barge
Illustration of Walter De Buck swimming in the water

2015 - Gantoise Champion!

The loudest day in the history of Ghent
Illustration of KAA Gent supporter with a supporter scarf in the water

2025 - Great Butchers' Hall

To be continued..
Illustration of a boat with a guide who explains to visitors sailing past the Groot Vleeshuis in Ghent
Illustration of Amandus, Jan Van Eyck, Lieven Bauwens and a rowing race on the Watersportbaan

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