Explore Ghent with kids!
Ghent, the student city par excellence, with so much beauty to offer. Jeroen studied in Ghent for 3 years. It seemed to him the moment to show his student city to Miel and Nell.
We stayed just outside the city at the Holiday Inn Express. The hotel has a large parking lot. When we visit a city, we always try to take our bikes with us. No hassle with finding a parking space in the city. You are much more flexible, often faster and at the same time it is an environmentally friendly way to get around. No bike? Public transport is a great alternative in Ghent.
The hotel has beautiful spacious family rooms. In the morning you join the breakfast with plenty of choice. We don't need more for a weekend away.
Our first stop: the Gravensteen.
The Gravensteen, that's thick walls and steep spiral staircases. The castle appeals to the imagination, especially with children. A place where children imagine themselves to be knights and princesses.
There is a special audio tour for children. It was narrated by Flemish comedian Wouter Deprez. The story takes you on a journey of discovery in and around the castle. Some locations can be scary. You will be warned in advance when you arrive at a location that is too scary or explicit. This way you can choose to avoid it. You do not need any extra audio for the torture chamber, it speaks for itself.
After Gravensteen we went into the old city, a great place to explore on foot. Everything is within walking distance of each other. Ghent has a beautiful historic city center with many medieval buildings. The nerve center of the medieval city center is around the Korenmarkt and the river Leie. Sit down for a moment, enjoy the sailing boats and the pleasant hustle and bustle.
Third stop: Blaarmeersen
The Blaarmeersen, just outside the city centre, is perfect for this. The domain is accessible free of charge. The swimming pond is one of the highlights, but there is so much more to discover. Pedal boats, skating, mini golf, petanque, playing in the large playground with maze or on the jungle path with climbing rocks, you can do it all.
In the summer it is of course the place to be to enjoy the water playground, the slides and the sandy beach. When the weather is not so nice you can especially enjoy a lovely walk in nature. The skate park is divided into seven areas. Skaters, freerunners, BMXers and inline skaters can show their skills. Both beginners and advanced skaters get a place in the park. Entrance is free and you don't have to make a reservation.
More to discover
Natural History Museum de Wereld van Kina has two locations: the House and the Garden. In the house you will fall from one surprise to the next: a unique fossil of a prehistoric reptile, a room full of chirping birds and thousands of rocks and minerals. Here you can feel, climb and push buttons everywhere yourself.
When visiting the Huis van Alijn, you and your (grand)children will dive into the past. Discover together how daily life has changed. Rummaging through the dressing-up trunk, leafing through photo albums from grandma's time together, feasting on the nostalgia of old films, doing crafts, hopping or playing tough, ..., become a little 'childish' again.
Design for children, that's what the Playmobil figures ensure. Through the Museum Game, children discover the collection while playing. No endless texts, but a search for pandas, pirates and kings who tell about their favorite object. Completely free for children.
The Industrial Museum is the place where industrial history is brought to life through large and small stories. Introduce your children to this history of industry and technology, or get actively involved in the printing house, the textile workshop or the Tinker Studio.
