Must See Belgium - Ghent

Southwest of Antwerp, Ghent was once a medieval-era powerhouse due to its 14th-century status as the largest cloth producer in Europe, and its rebellious nature when it came to tax increases. Now the capital of the Flanders province of Oost-Vlaanderen, it is home to a significant student population.

The most famous attraction in Ghent is inside the otherwise unremarkable St Baafskathedraal (St Baaf's Cathedral): one of the earliest-known oil paintings, a stunningly overwrought piece of art by 15th-century artist Jan Van Eyck called De Aanbidding van het Lams God (Adoration of the Mystic Lamb).

Other Middle-Aged features of Ghent include Belfort, a 14th-century belfry that stretches up from Botermarkt and allows magnificent city views, and Gravensteen, an imposing 12th-century moated and turreted castle. Burdened with the unfortunate acronym SMAK, the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (Museum of Contemporary Art) is worth a browse for its collection of Belgian artistry and the work of international gate-crashers like Warhol and Christo. Another decent local gallery is Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Museum of Fine Arts), which has Flemish Primitives like Rubens, Van Dyck and Delvaux on display.