Quotes
Why Ghent?
It"s not hard for us Gentenaars to praise our city to the skies with every possible superlative. But we don’t like to do it, we prefer to leave it to others. Because it seems that many a visitor has been taken aback by its beauty. Let’s read what some of them have said:
‘Belgium's fourth-largest - and most beautiful – city is home to a quarter of a million people and a flourishing flower export trade.’
"Ghent should rank as the most surprising city in Flanders, combining beauty and culture with creativity, cutting edge design and a vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene."
John Brunton, The Observer, 18 January 2009
“I think it’s wonderful to be here. And what a beautiful city you have here.”
Hollywood star Woody Harrelson in Het Laatste Nieuws
“Wonderful mix of a living city and a vibrant past. Much more real than lovely Bruges, just up the road. Local people cherish the character of this medieval city, yet there’s not a mono-economy of tourism.”
National Geographic Traveler on the occasion of the publication of its world ranking of the most authentic historic destinations. Ghent placed third.
“Ghent is uncommonly generous...Discovering Ghent on foot, is giving yourself the chance to come across unlikely scenes… Daring Ghent is game for everything, loves to surprise, knows how to open up to all trends and styles, without ever turning tasteless or becoming incoherent.”
Le Monde
“Ghent is real. And cool… When I first got here, everything seemed a bit surreal, contradictory, random. But that’s what I like about it. You’ve got all this “olde-worlde” charm, then suddenly something completely zany. And the people are a bit like that also.”
(Quoted by an American musician who has lived in Ghent for two years.)
Skyward “The Good News from Ghent”
“It’s the way its citizens take the beauty for granted without, somehow, losing their appreciation for it, like someone who’s been with a stunningly handsome lover for 20 years.”
Passport magazine
“Smack in the middle of Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp, Ghent distils their greatest attributes into one engaging and enchanting city.”
Lonely Planet – “Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp & Ghent” - Encounter.
"Ghent is not a city that will just charm you briefly and then leave you, with your feelings unstirred. No. Like a beautiful woman who is all too aware of her assets, Ghent will seduce you with its tempestuousness and passion. When you depart, you will be in complete turmoil, consumed with longing.’
Le Guide Routard
"Ghent has an artistic, Bohemian atmosphere. It provides all the possibilities of a metropolis, but also has a village feel to it."
Eigen Huis & Interieur
"Ghent is one of the finest historical cities in Europe."
François Mitterand
"Traffic, noise, pollution, urban saturation? Ghent is one of the cities which, because of its persistent rebelliousness, has ultimately emerged successful from the struggle against the malaises of modern cities. Instead of ageing, it emerged rejuvenated."
José Luis Invierno
"Ghent, a sparkling city of culture. This is a slogan found in one of the promotional leaflets for tourists and which is an accurate reflection of reality. Gentenaars experience culture as festive and festivities as a form of culture."
El Distrito
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