Museums in Ghent

The MSK (Museum voor Schone Kunsten) is Ghent's fine arts museum, holding a collection spanning from medieval Flemish primitives to 20th-century Belgian art. Key works by Hieronymus Bosch, Rubens, and Magritte anchor the permanent collection.

SMAK (Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst) is Belgium's leading contemporary art museum, facing the MSK across Citadelpark. Its collection includes major works by Francis Bacon, Joseph Beuys, Panamarenko, and Andy Warhol.

The Design Museum Gent occupies a historic mansion with an 18th-century front building and a modern rear extension. It presents Belgian and international design from Art Nouveau to the present, with period rooms from the 17th–18th centuries.

The STAM (Stadsmuseum Gent) tells the 2,000-year story of Ghent in a striking combination of medieval abbey buildings and a sleek modern wing. Its centrepiece is a giant aerial photograph of the city covering the entire floor of the nave.

The House of Alijn (Huis van Alijn) is a charming folklore museum housed in a 14th-century almshouse founded after a double murder. It documents everyday Belgian life through household objects, toys, and video interviews — a surprisingly moving experience.