Registering as an employee (EU citizen)

by Heather - 22 September, 201830 January, 2019

The following information describes how to register to live in Ghent city centre if you will be an employee here. If you are living in a house/apartment with postcode 9000 you will need to follow this process. It is colloquially known as the ‘Zuid process’ because most appointments take place

The Curious Case of Ham-Dressed University Pillars

by Nina - 25 June, 201819 May, 2019

An animated discussion on the appeal of the Broche pillar on Korenmarkt or the love-hate relationship of Gentenaars with the Schapenstal (sheep barn, a pet name for the Stadshal on the Emile Braunplein) - these are just two examples of how engaged the city dwellers are when it comes to

A Conversation with John “Sleepy” Moran of Gent Glas

by Rebecca Bramlett - 11 June, 201819 May, 2019

John “Sleepy” Moran is an American artist living in Gent. He runs Gent Glas, which is self-described as “a unique glass studio, gallery, shop, and café located in the heart of Ghent, Belgium.” His artists’ website, Back Door Art, says that “John Moran is a politically and socially engaged hot glass

Living an eco-friendly lifestyle in Ghent

by Heather - 30 April, 201819 February, 2019

Since writing this interview, Emilia seems to have stopped running her tours. We wish her all the best with her next venture! Born in Argentina, Emilia Cantero Dieguez moved to Ghent aged 6 when her dad got a job here, and since then has considered it her home. So it comes

Meet the Glocals: First Event Kicks Off

by Nina - 29 March, 201830 January, 2019

Meet the Glocals is a series of expat events in Ghent where newcomers meet more established expats and experts to talk about their burning issues. Organised by Community Gent, several rounds of the events will take place this year. Read on to learn all about them. TheSquare.Gent caught up with the

Gent Free Walking Tours with Maria and Corrado

by Max Streicher - 4 March, 201830 January, 2019

Free walking tours became a popular trend in every major city around the world during the last years. City enthusiasts would organize guided walking tours to share their view on the city, making a living based on tips received at the end of the tour. In Gent, Maria Mironova (from

Setting up a brewery in Belgium

by Heather - 26 February, 201827 February, 2019

Jerôme Eggen is originally from the Netherlands, and is the man behind De Laatste Drinker brewery. TheSquare.Gent caught up with him in 2018 to ask him how he ended up in the brewing business and how he feels about living in Ghent. 2281

Gent4Humanity: “What can we do?”

by Rebecca Bramlett - 22 February, 201819 May, 2019

Michelle and Oliver Wright are proof that expats can fully integrate into Gent. They demonstrate that expats can go beyond surviving here, they can thrive and contribute to the community, making it a better place than it was without them. They did just that by co-founding Gent4Humanity, a registered non-profit

Our favourite Flemish expressions

by Heather - 1 December, 201730 January, 2019

When my boss sent an email to say that a couple of people were sat in our weekly meeting 'for bacon and beans', I started to think he might really need a holiday. Turns out that it made perfect sense to him, and the other native Dutch speakers in the

Registering in Gent as an American

by Dena Mehalakes - 21 November, 201730 January, 2019

The following information describes the registering process to live in Ghent if you're from the US. The requirements can vary from person to person depending on what type of visa you have, what your job is, how long you are staying, etc. I will give you a little preview of