Het Spijker

Ghent


Built in the late 12th century, this heavy-beamed stone café is the oldest building on Graslei and was once the city grain store. Today it's a lively place that’s usually the most central drinking spot to stay open really late.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ghent attractions

1. Grasbrug

0.03 MILES

To admire Ghent’s towers and gables at their most photogenic, stand just west of the little Grasbrug bridge over the Leie at dusk. It’s a truly gorgeous…

2. Graslei

0.04 MILES

Ships have been docking on either side of the River Leie since the 11th century. The area on the east bank is known as Graslei; Korenlei is on the west…

3. Design Museum

0.06 MILES

A vast toilet-roll sculpture humorously marks the back side of this museum, which has a collection specialising in furnishings including baroque, art…

4. Korenlei

0.07 MILES

The Korenlei area is on the west bank of the River Leie; Graslei is on the east bank.

5. Korenmarkt

0.07 MILES

Ghent's best-loved waterfront square, the 'Wheat Market' is where you'll find some of the city's best architecture, including the former post office (now…

6. Gravensteen

0.11 MILES

Flanders’ quintessential 12th-century stone castle comes complete with moat, turrets and arrow slits. It’s all the more remarkable considering that during…

7. Werregarenstraat

0.14 MILES

Ghent's attachment to graffiti as an art form began in this central alley, known locally as Graffitistraatje. The website has a live map showing the…

8. Patershol

0.15 MILES

Dotted with half-hidden restaurants, enchanting Patershol is a web of twisting cobbled lanes. Its old-world houses were once home to leather tradesmen and…