Ghent Shopping and Districts

(Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium)

The main shopping street in Ghent is the extremely central and busy Veldstraat, which is lined with shops on both sides. Whilst the Veldstraat is completely pedestrianised, when shopping in this part of Ghent, do bear in mind that trams still run along this stretch all through the day.

Shopping in Ghent and throughout Belgium is not always as expensive as it first seems, since many tourists will be able to claim some or all of the tax back when they fly out of the country. Do check this first with the shopkeeper before you spend your money.


Many Flemish handicrafts make the perfect gift for tourists shopping for souvenirs. Particularly popular in Ghent are of course Belgian chocolates and marzipan sweets, along with handmade linen and lace, fashion accessories, and locally produced beer.

Where to Shop

While the Veldstraat may be the centre of the Ghent shopping scene, many of the nearby streets are also worth exploring.

Spend an afternoon window shopping along the Hoomstraat, the Hoogpoort, the Kortrijksepoortstraat and the Mageleinstraat, close to Ghent Cathedral.

Also check out the shops around the Brabantdam and the Vrijdagmarkt, and also the nearby Korenmarkt, where the historic post office has been converted into a small and extremely popular shopping centre.