Province · Flandres

Flandres Oriental

Gante and its quays in the centre, the Escalda and Lys rivers running through it, and to the south, the cobbled hills of the Ardenas Flamengas.

In the photo: Oude Kwaremont, Ardenas Flamengas

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Flandres Oriental

Flandres Oriental lies in the middle of Flandres, between Bruges and Antuérpia, and is crossed by two rivers: the Escalda (Schelde) and the Lys (Leie), which meet in Gante. To the north, the Waasland and the Meetjesland are flat lands of polders and canals, on the border with the Netherlands. To the south, the ground rolls into the Ardenas Flamengas, with woods, pastures and short, steep slopes.

Gante is the capital and was, in the Middle Ages, one of the largest cities in northern Europe, enriched by wool and cloth. From that time remain the Gravensteen, castle of the counts of Flandres, the Belfort and the Catedral de São Bavão, which houses the retable of the Adoração do Cordeiro Místico by the Van Eyck brothers. Today it is a university city, full of bicycles, and the Graslei and Korenlei quays are the meeting point for residents and visitors.

Outside Gante, the province reveals itself slowly. Oudenaarde was a center of tapestry and has a Gothic town hall on the square. Sint-Niklaas has one of the largest market squares in Belgium. On the banks of the Lys, Sint-Martens-Latem gathered painters at the start of the 20th century, and the castle of Laarne, with moat and towers, lies east of the capital. In the Ardenas Flamengas, climbs such as the Oude Kwaremont, the Paterberg and the Muur de Geraardsbergen are famous because of the Volta de Flandres, the country's most beloved cycling race.

Dutch is spoken, and in Gante many people get by in English. The cuisine has two dishes that carry the name of Gante: waterzooi, a creamy stew of chicken or fish with vegetables, and stoverij in the local style, made with beer and served with bread and mustard. Tierenteyn mustard and cuberdons, purple nose-shaped sweets, are typical souvenirs of the city. Geraardsbergen has its milk tart, the mattentaart.

Routes

Routes through Flandres Oriental

6 cities

Art cities of Flandres

Six historic cities connected by train: Bruxelas, Lovaina, Mechelen, Antuérpia, Gante and Bruges, with Flemish painting, cathedrals and medieval centres less than an hour from each other.

When to go

The climate is temperate and wet, with rain distributed throughout the year. From May to September the days are long and temperatures usually range between 15 and 23 °C. In July the Gentse Feesten take place, ten days of music and street theatre in the centre of Gante; in 2026 it runs from 17 to 26 July. The Volta de Flandres usually takes place in early April, finishing in Oudenaarde. December brings the Christmas market around the Catedral de São Bavão and the Belfort.

Getting there

The most used airport is Brussels Airport, in Zaventem. Connections with Brazil are usually via a transfer in another city. Check before buying. From the airport there are SNCB trains to Gante, and from Brussels the journey takes about half an hour. The main station is Gent-Sint-Pieters, linked to the centre by tram. Oudenaarde, Sint-Niklaas, Aalst and Geraardsbergen also have stations. By car, the E40 crosses the province from east to west, between Brussels and Bruges, passing through Gante; the E17 connects Antuérpia to Gante and continues to Kortrijk and France. In Gante's historic centre car access is restricted; it's best to leave the vehicle in a car park on the edge of town.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Flandres Oriental

Gante or Bruges: which to choose?

They are about half an hour apart by train, so it's possible to see both. Gante is larger, has more university life and fewer organised tours; Bruges is smaller and more concentrated around the medieval centre. If you have little time people usually sleep in one and do a day trip to the other.

What is the Gentse Feesten?

It's Gante's street festival in July: ten days with music stages, theatre, fairs and stalls across the whole centre, running late into the night. The city gets very busy and hotels fill up early. If you want to see the city calmly you should avoid that week; if you like partying, book in advance.

Can you visit the Ardenas Flamengas without a car?

Partly. Oudenaarde and Geraardsbergen have train stations, and from there marked cycling and walking routes run through the hills. To go from village to village in a single day, a car or a rented electric bike makes things easier. The climbs are short, but some have cobbles and are very steep.

What is waterzooi?

It's Gante's typical dish: a stew in a creamy broth, thickened with egg yolk and cream, with either chicken or fish, carrot, leek and potato. It's winter food, but it's on menus year-round.

How to get around within Gante?

The centre is compact and walkable. From Gent-Sint-Pieters station to the historic centre there are frequent trams. The bicycle is the city's means of transport, with cycle lanes and rentals near the stations. Boats offer tours along the canals and the Lys departing from the Graslei.