Episode 1/25

Dogged Determination
This is the famous Groenendael breed. As background, Belgium has been the world’s leading exporter of milk chocolate for a very long time. It is a very important contributor to the national economy. Belgian farmers in the olden times were predominantly dairy farmers, and needed to herd their cows as expertly as possible. They took to breeding of dogs for the task. Did you know there were once eight types of shepherd dogs unique to Belgium? The name Groenendael (or Chien de Berger Belge) was given to this long-haired black variety, today’s Belgian Sheepdog. By the end of the 18th century, the versatility and energy of Belgian sheepdogs were becoming known far beyond the borders of Belgium. Paris and New York used Belgian sheepdogs to aid the police and customs agents. During World War I and World War II, the dogs played a vital part, acting as messengers, ambulance dogs and haulers of heavy gunnery.

@ Dogged Determination
Basil Brianberry begins his tour of the Belgian city of Ghent.

Episode 2/25

Rabot Gate, Ghent
The Rabot Gate, Ghent, Belgium was built on the Lieve Canal in the late 1890s. Two towers had the locksman's house built between them.

@ Rabot Gate, Ghent

Blue And Copper Egg
The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.

Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.

Episode 3/25

Belgian Bicycle
We don't know whether this old-fashioned pushbike is really used to make deliveries or if it's been painted to match the establishment and set up as a nice piece of advertising, but either way, it's a striking piece of street art!

@ Belgian Bicycle
St. Bavo’s Cathedral is a 292 ft (89-metre) tall Gothic building and Ghent’s Catholic Cathedral. It also contains the famous Altarpiece of Ghent, also known as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Apart from the altarpiece, the Cathedral has three other masterpieces: the pulpit constructed with gilded wood and marble, a painting by Peter Paul Rubens and a Baroque high altar.

Episode 4/25

Historic Graslei Harbour, Ghent
Historical old houses on the Graslei Harbor, Ghent.

@ Historic Graslei Harbour, Ghent
If you are a foodie, a trip to Vrijdagmarkt or “Friday Market” for a meal and drink will be a great experience. The market has hosted stalls every Friday since the 12th century.

Episode 5/25

River Leie, Ghent
Ghent is a port city in northwest Belgium, at the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers. This scene depicts St Michael's Bridge over the River Leie.

@ River Leie, Ghent
If someone offers you a Ghent Nose (a neuzen or a cuberdon), they mean a purple, jelly-filled candy cone.

Episode 6/25

Mediaeval Castle Gravensteen
It is a must to visit the mysterious ‘Castle of the Counts’ on your visit to Ghent. This castle has a very stormy past, closely linked with the city's complex political and social history of the city. It is the only remaining mediaeval castle with a moat and largely intact defence system in Flanders. Your visit to the Castle of the Counts furnish you with a complete picture of 12th century culture . The gatehouse, ramparts, keep, Count’s residence and stables are open to visitors.

@ Mediaeval Castle Gravensteen
No army has ever managed to conquer the mediaeval castle of Gravensteen with its deterrent moat, thick walls and watchtowers but a group of students marched in on 16 November 1949. The only guard on duty was locked up and the students barricaded the door with a large cart full of rotten fruit. Banners were hung from its towers: they demanded that the price of beer, that had just been raised to 4 franks a glass was to be lowered back to 3 franks. Two police officers cycling past got hit with some rotten fruit. More police and firefighters were sent to the scene and suffered the same fate! The occupation only lasted for a few hours, until the firefighters put a ladder up and entered the castle. Each year, students from Ghent commemorate this day by marching into the castle and drinking a lot of beer while dancing on its walls!

Episode 7/25

Ghent Tramway
Ghent has had a tramway system, starting with horse-drawn trams, since 1874. There was a fleet of 100 horses. After a short-lived experiment using battery power, the system was converted to overhead electric wires from 1904. During the process of electrification, the track gauge was reduced from 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) standard gauge to 1,000 mm (3 ft 33?8 in) metre gauge. The service is efficient and speedy, running from 05:30 until 23:30 with only five-minute gaps at peak times.

@ Ghent Tramway
Ghent is a beer city, with centuries of beer-making history, and 250 breweries still operating.

Episode 8/25

I Am the Captain of My Ship
Look upwards on your meanderings through Ghent at dusk and you might spot this fabulous piece of roof architecture. Such detail has gone into the fashioning of this iron weather-vane in the form of a three-master ship! You can picture it ploughing through the waves when the wind changes!

@ I Am the Captain of My Ship
Enter the magic world of comic books in a former school building next to the monastery of the Augustine monks, the Comic Art Hotel! Asterix and Obelix welcome you at the reception desk, and the theme of comic book characters and their adventures is visible all over the 36-room hotel.

Episode 9/25

Kleine Vismarkt, Ghent
"The Small Fish Market" is the location of these beautiful buildings, based on the River Leie in Ghent.

@ Kleine Vismarkt, Ghent
If someone offers you a Ghent Nose (a neuzen or a cuberdon), they mean a purple, jelly-filled candy cone.

Episode 10/25

Quai aux Herbes, Ghent
The Maison Den Enghel (on the far right) is located at No. 8 Quai aux Herbes (Graslei), a quay located along the Leie (tributary of the Scheldt) which is one of the most beautiful complexes in Belgium, bordered by the old houses of the guilds, including the Romanesque House of Ghent, the De Beerie House, the House of the Grain Measurers and the House of the Freeboatmen.

@ Quai aux Herbes, Ghent
Jan Van Eyck was a true genius! He was the first artist to perfect the oil painting technique. He did not just have great technical skills, his eye for detail was also phenomenal! Jan Van Eyck’s eye operated as a microscope and telescope. He was one of the first painters to depict a realistic moon with craters.

Episode 11/25

Oh, I do like to stroll along the prom, prom, prom ...
... while the brass band plays tiddly-om-pom-pom —well, we can't promise you the brass band but you can enjoy a splendid promenade beside the River Lys in Ghent!

@ Oh, I do like to stroll along the prom, prom, prom ...
To combat illicit graffiti, Ghent declared Werrengarestraat a graffiti zone, and the resulting ever-changing gallery of street art is now one of the most photographed parts of the city.

Episode 12/25

Starfish and Shells
You'll be unlikely to find these delicious looking shells on the beach! Belgium is said to produce the best chocolate in the world, so pop into a chocolatier on your Belgian trip to see if you agree!

@ Starfish and Shells
The official currency in Ghent, as in the rest of Belgium, is the euro.

Episode 13/25

Gravensteen Castle, Ghent
Be transported back to the Middle Ages with this view of the fine Castle of Gravensteen in Ghent, Belgium!

@ Gravensteen Castle, Ghent
The War of 1812 between the US and Great Britain was officially ended here, in neutral territory, with the Treaty of Ghent.

Episode 14/25

Castle of the Counts, Ghent
In the Middle Ages, this would have been a state-of-the-art security device to keep marauders out of your stronghold! It's to be found in Castle Gravensteen in Ghent.

@ Castle of the Counts, Ghent
A fire-spitting dragon has been protecting Ghent from the top of its belfry since 1377. It does spit fire, but only for big occasions! It started in 1500 during the baptism of the Ghent-born Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, then in 1626 for the birth of a princess, later in 1700 when Philip V ascended the throne of Spain that was controlling the region, and in 1819 when the King of the Netherlands William II visited. In 2018 the dragon spat fire again to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Gentse Feesten (a popular summer festival in Ghent).

Episode 15/25

View of City of Ghent
The Belgian flag proudly flying above the mediaeval castle Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) in Ghent on a beautiful summer's day.

@ View of City of Ghent
Oh look ... you got a little gift!

Episode 16/25

World-Class Waffles
If you are accustomed to American waffles, you will find that Belgian waffles are a made with a lighter batter, and have larger squares and deeper pockets. Belgian waffles used to be made leavened with yeast, but nowadays baking powder is often used. They can be served up as a breakfast food; perhaps topped with whipped cream, icing sugar and soft fruit or and chocolate spread, or syrup or butter. They are often served with ice cream and fresh fruit as a pudding.

@ World-Class Waffles
The Festival of Flanders and the Ghent Jazz festival have earned UNESCO recognition. Film stars and lovers flock to the city in October for the Ghent Film Festival. Other events in the port city include the Gent Festival van Vlaanderen and the Gentse Feesten.

Episode 17/25

Intent in Ghent
This landmark bronze sculpture found in a park in Ghent depicts an enigmatic male figure apparently lost in sombre thought.

@ Intent in Ghent
No army has ever managed to conquer the mediaeval castle of Gravensteen with its deterrent moat, thick walls and watchtowers but a group of students marched in on 16 November 1949. The only guard on duty was locked up and the students barricaded the door with a large cart full of rotten fruit. Banners were hung from its towers: they demanded that the price of beer, that had just been raised to 4 franks a glass was to be lowered back to 3 franks. Two police officers cycling past got hit with some rotten fruit. More police and firefighters were sent to the scene and suffered the same fate! The occupation only lasted for a few hours, until the firefighters put a ladder up and entered the castle. Each year, students from Ghent commemorate this day by marching into the castle and drinking a lot of beer while dancing on its walls!

Episode 18/25

Aerial view of Ghent
St Nicholas Church (Sint-Niklaaskerk in Flemish) is in the foreground of this image of the Old City of Ghent, taken from the Belfry tower. Ghent has many beautiful mediaeval buildings.

@ Aerial view of Ghent
Ghent is a beer city, with centuries of beer-making history, and 250 breweries still operating.

Episode 19/25

Side Street Architecture, Ghent
These beautiful architectural features are to be found in Biezekapelstraat, a side street near St Bavo's Cathedral. The street name is a reference to the Biezekapelletje J.B. De Rodoan, Lord of Bieze and alderman of the Keure had erected against the façade of his house in 1608, at the beginning of the 17th century. This chapel is part of the background of the Refugestraat coming from the Hoogpoort. Already in the XVIth century there was a statue of the Blessed Virgin in a niche, which was highly revered by passers-by.

@ Side Street Architecture, Ghent
In 1539, Charles V forced nobles to parade in the streets with nooses around their necks, giving birth to the nickname Stroppendragers (noose wearers), which locals have called themselves ever since.

Episode 20/25

Port on River Leie, Ghent
A commercial port developed on the River Leie called Tusschen Brugghen. Most of the houses, with neo-Gothic facades, that stand along this, the Quai aux Herbes had something to do with port activities.

@ Port on River Leie, Ghent
Enter the magic world of comic books in a former school building next to the monastery of the Augustine monks, the Comic Art Hotel! Asterix and Obelix welcome you at the reception desk, and the theme of comic book characters and their adventures is visible all over the 36-room hotel.

Episode 21/25

Stone Windmill in Ghent
Windmill enthusiasts can have a rare old time exploring the 150-odd old windmills around Belgium! Some are still working mills; others have been converted into Airbnb accommodation. What better way to explore the Belgian countryside than to hire bicycles and make a tour from one windmill to the next!

@ Stone Windmill in Ghent
The Festival of Flanders and the Ghent Jazz festival have earned UNESCO recognition. Film stars and lovers flock to the city in October for the Ghent Film Festival. Other events in the port city include the Gent Festival van Vlaanderen and the Gentse Feesten.

Episode 22/25

St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent
There has been a place of worship on this site for over 1000 years. Ghent, one of the most powerful cities in Western Europe in the Middle Ages, could always afford to build bigger and richer churches.

@ St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent
The official currency in Ghent, as in the rest of Belgium, is the euro.

Episode 23/25

Scheldt River, Ghent
Get back to nature with a relaxing walk along the banks of the River Scheldt at low tide.

@ Scheldt River, Ghent
Jan Van Eyck has left about twenty masterpieces scattered all over the world in museums and collections. The artist’s life is still largely a mystery, but his works have withstood the centuries! As far as we know, one work by Van Eyck is still privately owned. All other works are held in museums across the world. The Arnolfini Portrait and Portrait of a Man, for instance, are on display at the National Gallery in London. The Madonna of Chancellor Rolin is kept in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. But in St Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent, you can admire his greatest work, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.

Episode 24/25

Street-Smart Wall Art
With its mixed hues of mauve, dusky pink, blue and highlights in vibrant orange, this wall of graffiti in Ghent, Belgium, warrants deeper inspection. Its cartoon-type animal figures are surrounded by weird futuristic creatures, aquatic scenery and seaweedy extrusions.

@ Street-Smart Wall Art
In 1539, Charles V forced nobles to parade in the streets with nooses around their necks, giving birth to the nickname Stroppendragers (noose wearers), which locals have called themselves ever since.

Episode 25/25

Bridge over the River Liei
St Michael's Bridge spans the River Liei, Ghent. It provides a strategic position that makes it the most appealing spot for taking photos in Ghent. There are great views down the street toward St Nicholas Church, the Belfort, and St Bavo's Cathedral on one axis and the historic Graslei and Korenlei waterfronts on the other. Don't miss this canal trip when visiting Ghent!

@ Bridge over the River Liei
Basil Brianberry has now completed his tour of the Belgian city of Ghent. As he prepares to go home, he receives a wonderful gift!

Basil Brianberry has enjoyed his tour of the Belgian city of Ghent, but it is time to go home now! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour a Belgian city!