Children

Is this your first visit to the city with children? Then let a guide show you the ropes. On foot, by boat or in a carriage.

Rather go it alone? Why not? Go by bicycle or even by boat.

There are some crazy things to do with children in Ghent

Discover Ghent with the new Funmap

Photo treasure hunt through the city

Funmap is a playful guide book that takes the form of a photo treasure hunt. It allows you to discover and experience everything cities and nature have to offer. Ghent now has its very own Funmap for an adventurous and exciting city exploration!

When did you last count the teeth of a fire-spitting dragon?
When did you last get shot out of a cannon?
Have you ever entered a church while playing hopscotch?
Have you ever met a skater who is eight metres high?

These are just a few of the many fun tasks you’ll get to do in Ghent as part of the Funmap tour. This treasure hunt takes you to new places or makes you rediscover the city by looking at it from a different angle. Everything is a surprise, except your point of departure. Photos take you through this lively city on a fun, adventurous quest. Along the way, you’ll have to answer quite a few funny riddles and you’ll be served a portion of saucy facts and anecdotes.

Funmap Ghent takes you from the Castle of the Counts through the Graffiti Street all the way to the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, the Zuidpark and St Peter’s Abbey. Along the way you will count azaleas, climb a centuries-old fortress and see an angel wave at you.

Funmap Ghent is available in English and Dutch.
The booklet costs € 9.50 and can be purchased from the Ghent Tourist Office (Crypt of the Belfry)

You can check your answers by downloading the solutions here.

The World of Kina: the Garden
The World of Kina: the House

Two worlds, one nature museum. The superb permanent collection is supplemented by fascinating temporary exhibitions. The two exhibitions on sexuality and relationships, one for children from 4 to 12 years old and one for teenagers, are an absolute must. The permanent eight-legged residents (tarantulas) are also looking forward to your visit.

The ‘Ghent and Emperor Charles V’ audiovisual show tells you about the turbulent relationship between Ghent and its most famous son, Charles V (also in English on request). The ‘Papier-Plezier’ exhibition is a magical display for the very youngest children. Treasure hunts for various ages make it possible to discover all this in an agreeable way.

Design museum Gent

An original museum game makes the Design Museum in Ghent an essential experience for children too. Armed with a rucksack full of gadgets, your offspring will search high and low and learn as they play.

Castle of the Counts

Adults find the Castle of the Counts imposing, but for children it is nothing less than breathtaking. All the stories about knights and ladies here suddenly become very real (the movieguide helps too).
www.gent.be/eCache/THE/1/464.cmVjPTQ0MTM5.html (available in Dutch)

Illuseum

In this museum, where they conjure with tricks of vision and optical illusions, you really can’t believe your eyes.

St Peter’s Abbey Arts Centre

The virtual monk Alison guides you on a mysterious journey through the age-old abbey. All the secrets of its former residents are revealed and at the end you discover how and why the monk Raphael vanished. The movieguide makes it seem as if you are taking part in an exciting film. A museum visit for the 21st century.
www4.gent.be/sintpietersabdij/03_Alison/Alison01_en.htm

You can find more information about sports activities (swimming pools, playgrounds, skate parks, recreation areas) at Sports and Leisure.