Museum sights in Ghent
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Stedelijk Museum Voor Actuele Kunst (SMAK)
The motivation for many people's visit to Ghent is its Museum of Contemporary Art, a.k.a. SMAK. It holds a highly regarded permanent collection of local works (including Karel Appel, Pierre Alechinsky and Panamarenko) and works of international celebrities (like Christo, Warhol and Hockney), though of late it's been packing these away to devote its space to single major exhibits (such as Paul McCarthy's blood-spattered installations), so it's worth checking the programme.
Look out for works by Karel Appel, Pierre Alechinsky and Panamarenko - three of Belgium's best-known contemporary artists - as well as artworks by international celebrities like Christo, Warhol and Hockn…
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B
Design Museum
The Design Museum is one of Ghent's little-known gems. It comprises two sections: furnishings from the Renaissance to the 19th century adorn the front part of the building, whereas 20th-century art - everything from a Victor Horta-designed Art Nouveau wall cabinet to '70s psychedelic sofas - takes centre stage in the glass-covered rear wing.
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C
Museum Voor Vormgeving
Behind its 18th-century façade, Ghent's Design Museum displays furnishings from the Renaissance to today in a striking modern space. Art Deco, Art Nouveau and retro (including some lurid '70s sofas) are all represented, and there are regular temporary exhibits (sometimes attracting an additional fee).
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D
Museum of Fine Arts
Ghent's Museum of Fine Arts has a good collection of Flemish Primitives and a couple of typically nightmarish works by Hieronymus Bosch - including one of Bosch's most famous pieces, De Kruisdraging (Bearing of the Cross), depicting Christ surrounded by hideous mocking characters.
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E
Alijn House
The Alijn House occupies a set of beautifully restored almshouses in the city's heart. The museum's theme focuses on life as it was at the start of the 20th century. It's all very quaint, even more so on Sundays when puppets take centre stage.
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Dr Guislain Museum
Anyone unnerved by One Flew Over the Cuckoos' Nest should avoid it -this former psychiatric hospital, northwest of the city centre, showcases some chilling forms of treatment, and also features a collection of art by 'outsiders'.
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