Visiting the Belfry of Ghent

The Belfry of Ghent is one of three medieval towers standing tall over Ghent’s historic center. You can’t miss it as you walk through this beautiful Belgian city, and we’d say it’s well worth a visit! Inside the tower, you’ll learn a little about this historic building, see Ghent’s iconic dragon, and take in some of the best views over the city.

Brief History of the Belfry of Ghent

Construction on the Belfry of Ghent began in 1313, but wasn’t completed until the 1380s. It originally served as a watchtower where watchmen would surveille the city and operate the clock. The current Belfry clock was put in place in 1913 and is still manually wound on a daily basis.

In 1408, the city council placed Ghent’s secret charters within a chest in the Belfry. The dragon statue that already sat atop the tower to watch over the city then also became a guardian of the charters. The dragon remains a major symbol of the city today.

In 1425, the Cloth Hall was built just aside the Belfry of Ghent. It took until the early 1900s for the building to be completely finished! Wool and cloth trade were major contributors of Ghent’s economy and the Cloth Hall was at the center of the export operations. A small prison was also built in a portion of the Cloth Hall.

Today, the Belfry of Ghent is classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At 91 meters (almost 300 feet) tall, it is also currently the tallest belfry in Belgium! This is a popular spot to visit among locals and visitors looking to see some of Ghent’s history and admire the views over the city.

Getting to the Belfry of Ghent

Ghent is fairly small and many of the main attractions are concentrated around the city center. It is common to explore Ghent on foot and you’ll likely not be too far from the Belfry, which is conveniently located in the historical center near various restaurants, hotels, and other interesting sites.

If taking public transport into the city center, the nearest transport hub to the Belfry of Ghent is the Korenmarkt stop where various tram and bus lines run. Find transport maps and learn more about getting around Ghent on public transport here.

Tickets

Tickets for the Belfry of Ghent cost €11 per adult. There are discounts for children, students, groups, holders of various passes, and others. See the website for the various price points.

The website recommends booking tickets online in advance. Online, you can select a date and timeslot, which are laid out in 20-minute increments. You can also see the number of tickets still available.

We visited on a weekday in October, which was outside of peak time, and arrived at opening. We purchased our tickets upon arrival and the Belfry wasn’t busy at all. However, during peak summer months and weekends, you may want to consider booking in advance. Access to those without pre-purchased tickets is not guaranteed if visitation is at capacity.

City Pass

The CityCard Ghent covers entrance to the Belfry. If you have the CityCard, you don’t need to make a reservation in advance. Just show up and present the pass. Learn more about the CityCard Ghent here.

We didn’t buy the CityCard as we were just visiting on a day trip and the tickets for the attractions we visited did not add up to the cost of the card. However, if you’re staying in Ghent for a couple days or plan to visit numerous attractions covered on the pass, it may be worth it!

The view over Saint Nicholas' Church — The view over Saint Nicholas’ Church

Hours

The Belfry of Ghent is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The last entry is at 5:20 p.m.

The Belfry is closed on December 24th, 25th, and 31st and on January 1st. Additional closures or alternative hours may occur, so check the website before your visit.

After buying our tickets, we headed into the lower level exhibit of the Belfry of Ghent. The various floors of the Belfry contain small exhibits covering the history of the monument. Displays present the information in various languages, including English.

On one floor sits the iconic dragon, a long-time symbol of Ghent. The metal dragon once sat on top of the Belfry, guarding the city. During celebrations, the dragon would breathe fire. A smaller, gold one sits up there today.

The famous dragon of the Belfry of Ghent

One of the levels also holds the carillon. You may even be there to hear the bells above and see the carillon work on the hour. The Belfry of Ghent originally held a massive bell that also served as a warning alarm. That bell now sits down near Saint Nicholas’ Church and the City Pavilion. Today, the current Belfry bells chime on certain times like a typical clock tower.

After the exhibits, we headed up the stairs the guards used to take to the watchtower. The stairway was pretty narrow resulting in people having to squeeze tightly past each other. Luckily it wasn’t crowded! From the top, the views were beautiful. The platform winds around the tower offering views in every direction over Ghent.

Views of the city from the Belfry of Ghent

Note that, while there is a lift within the building, you’ll need to take the stairs from the ground level and to access the viewing platform in the watchtower. You can also take the stairs all the way up if you don’t want to take the lift! There are over 350 in total.