#012 - Postcards from Ghent

For four glorious weeks, the Netherlands felt like summer had arrived early: clear blue skies, high temperatures, and not a drop of rain. It was the kind of weather that makes you do a double take, this can’t be Holland, right? But all good things must come to an end. And when do they usually come crashing down? Exactly right when my wife and I were heading to Belgium and the city of Ghent with a big group of her colleagues for a weekend getaway. Great timing. Instead of sunny spring vibes, we were greeted by weather that screamed autumn: cold, windy, and very, very wet.

I already knew this wasn’t going to be a photography weekend. With a packed schedule and a large group, there’s hardly any time to wander off and wait for the perfect shot. Still, I took my camera with me. You never know when a special moment will appear out of nowhere.

My motto for this city trip: don’t force anything just soak up the city and enjoy whatever comes your way. See, frame, click. Tap to snap. That was about all I expected. And honestly? Despite the rain and the rushed snapshots, I managed to capture a few gems. Photos that, for me, really reflect the mood and memories of the weekend.

A city for the senses
It had been about 25 years since I last visited Ghent. To be honest, I barely remembered a thing. But wow what a city. Gent oozes history, culture, and a certain zest for life. It's a city for bon vivants. Nothing is expected, anything goes.

And let’s be real for a second: Ghent’s beer culture is alive and very well. Quaint pubs, tasting rooms, local brews… it’s heaven for anyone who enjoys a good drink. So what do you do when Saturday afternoon is a total washout? Simple, you duck into a cozy bar. In our case, it was ‘De Maecht van Ghent’. I’ll leave the rest of that rainy afternoon to your imagination. Let’s just say it was very Belgian in all the right ways.

A glimmer of sun on Sunday
Sunday morning brought a break in the weather. Finally. Still grey, still chilly, but dry enough to head out and explore. We started at Vrijdagmarkt, a beautiful medieval square surrounded by narrow alleys and stately old buildings. Right in the middle stands a towering statue of Jacob van Artevelde, arm stretched out dramatically towards England. I don’t know the full story, but if you get a statue like that in a spot like this, you must’ve done something worth remembering.

Ghent is a lively university town located where two rivers meet—the Schelde and the Leie. These waterways made the city a major hub of trade centuries ago and brought it great wealth. From the bridge over the Leie, the view is nothing short of iconic: to the left, the Graslei; to the right, the Korenlei. Elegant façades reflecting in the water, whispers of a golden past. Even with grey skies, it’s a postcard-worthy scene.

Medieval castles and spray paint
Right in the heart of the city stands Gravensteen, a mystical, medieval castle that’s nearly impossible to miss literally. Whether you plan to or not, you’ll stumble upon it. It’s the only surviving water castle in Flanders with a near-intact defensive system. While walking past, I caught an interesting tidbit from a tour guide: the fortress was only ever "conquered" once, by students in 1949 protesting rising beer prices. Honestly, if you're going to take over a castle, that seems like a pretty good reason.

Before the trip, I’d read about Graffiti Street, a narrow alley tucked away behind some dull buildings, transformed into a riot of color and creativity. It’s a sanctioned space where the only rule is spray-can etiquette: “Respect the works that are better than yours.” It took some hunting, but it was absolutely worth the detour. Street art in a city full of gothic towers and medieval stone? The contrast is bizarre and it works.

Not enough time, plenty of reasons to return
Let’s be honest: Ghent is way too much for a single night. We barely scratched the surface of what the city has to offer. Which is exactly why I want to come back, just the two of us next time, with more time, more calm, and hopefully a little less rain.

That said, the weather wasn’t a dealbreaker. Rain or shine, Ghent surprised me in the best way possible.