Easy hikes and walks in East Flanders

The Speicherhaus on the Graslei in Ghent dates from the late 12th century, making it one of the oldest examples of bourgeois Romanesque architecture in the Netherlands. It is built of Tournai limestone and was used as a grain staple until the mid-18th century. After falling into disrepair in the 19th century, it was restored in 1901-1902 and now houses a restaurant.

This stately 19th-century castle is hidden in a beautiful park forest on the edge of the Puyenbroeck domain. Until recently, it housed the MOLA (Molenmuseum - Mill Museum). The monumental millstones and gears on the lawn are a reminder of the site's industrial history. The current castle was built around 1890 on behalf of the noble de Kerchove de Denterghem family and replaced a much older, moated settlement. The eclectic facade combines red brick, sandstone details, and playful stepped gables, giving the building its characteristic castle appearance. Today, it is mainly a wonderful resting place for hikers and cyclists. Take a seat on a bench under the ancient trees and enjoy the peace and greenery.

A hidden spectacle in Ghent's water When you walk or cycle along the atmospheric Portus Ganda marina, you pass the historic Sint-Joris lock. This lock regulates the water level between the Leie and the Schelde rivers and is a lovely spot to rest on a bench and watch boats. Did you know? Although almost the entire Ghent port operates digitally and computer-controlled nowadays, the Sint-Joris lock is one of the few places where you can still see a real, authentic lock keeper at work! The same lock keeper cycles back and forth every day between this lock and the nearby Scaldis lock to open the gates manually. If you time your walk well (around 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, or 4:00 PM), you'll see how pleasure boats are 'maneuvered' through Ghent by hand!

In the Kluisbos - on top of the 141-meter-high Kluisberg - you'll never run out of walking or cycling opportunities. This is the largest forest in the Flemish Ardennes.

A Romanesque warehouse, also called "Spijker", served as a storage place for grain transported along the Leiehaven until 1734. Presumably initially owned by the Ghent patrician family Utenhove; since the end of the 13th century, it belonged to the Holy Spirit table of St. Nicholas' Church, which rented it out to grain merchants. From the 16th century onwards, it housed offices of the staple lords, who supervised the collection of the Ghent staple duty; from 1750 as a meeting place for the Pijnders or grain unloaders. The ground floor in the 19th century deteriorated into slum dwellings; burned down in 1896, but the facade was preserved. Restored in 1903 according to a design by architect August Van Assche. Currently, the municipal cleaning service continues to use it for storing containers. Slightly forward-leaning facade with seven bays and three storeys, as well as a gable roof (ridges perpendicular to the street, slate tiles), from the fourth quarter of the 12th century. A wide, stepped gable with six bays and an additional bay, topped with two battlements, built entirely of Tournai limestone. Source: https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/24758

The Korenstapelhuis or Spijker is a guild house in the Belgian city of Ghent on the Graslei. It is a building built in the Romanesque style from the late 12th century, making it one of the oldest examples of bourgeois Romanesque architecture in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is built of Tournai limestone. It served as a Spijker (grain storage) until 1734. After that, the building served as a meeting place for the Pijnders (grain unloaders). In the 19th century, the building fell into disrepair until it was restored in 1901–1902. Today it houses a hamburger restaurant. To the right of the Korenstapelhuis is the Mauthaus. The left side wall of the Tolhuisje is actually the outer wall of the Korenstapelhuis.

Between the Leie and Onderbergen lies the Pand, a former Dominican monastery. It is an impressive complex around a forecourt and the old cemetery. The former hospital (1201) came into the hands of the Dominicans, an order that preached in cities and won souls, hence their nickname 'Preachers'. The people of Ghent, however, did not like being enslaved and were tired of the sermons. This monastery thus became one of the first victims of iconoclasm. In the 16th century, Ghent's first theological university saw the light of day in this monastery. Later, in the 19th century, the building became a "tenement house": Almost every square meter was rented out to students, artists, and Ghent tribes. The nickname 'Flea Palace' also dates from this period. Source: https://visit.gent.be/nl/zien-doen/pand

The Royal Dutch Theatre Dutch: Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg, is a theatre building in the Belgian city of Ghent. The theatre is located on the north side of Sint-Baafsplein, which was created in 1897 by the demolition of older buildings that blocked the view of St. Bavo's Cathedral. The theatre was built between 1897 and 1899 on the site of the former Regnessestraat. It was designed in an eclectic style with predominantly Renaissance elements by the architect Edmond De Vigne.