“Have you been to the Belgian town of Ghent? It’s even more beautiful than Bruges!”
These words from a fellow traveler I met three years ago on the road have stayed with me. Three years later, returning to Belgium, I finally fulfilled this wish and got to explore this town nestled between Brussels and Bruges.
Though Ghent may now seem just like any other small Belgian town, it was actually widely renowned in the 11th century—second only to Paris in prosperity and the second-largest city in Europe at the time. From the 11th to the 13th century, thanks to its location where two rivers converge, the moist land was ideal for sheep farming, which gave rise to a thriving wool textile industry. The bell tower still standing in the heart of Ghent was once the center of the textile trade.
Like Bruges, Ghent is crisscrossed with canals. If Bruges is known for its delicacy, then Ghent exudes grandeur. Its streets are much wider, and the town itself is larger than Bruges, requiring a tram ride to get around. As you stroll through, a castle suddenly appears right in the city center. Even though Europe has so many castles, most are standalone structures atop distant hills—this is the first time I’ve seen one in the middle of a city, and it was built in the 11th century. It shows just how significant this small town once was, having its very own castle in such a compact area.
Due to time constraints, I didn’t get to take a boat tour, but watching all kinds of people sitting by the river, leisurely doing what they enjoy, was delightful—like a group of college-aged girls chatting, radiating youthful energy; couples hugging and whispering sweet nothings; elderly folks with silver hair taking a quiet rest.
This once-glorious place declined due to the Hundred Years' War and religious conflicts. Though it may no longer boast the popularity or economic vitality of its heyday, it still retains the noble aura of its aristocratic past—like a fallen prince who remains graceful, making you feel at ease and unpretentious in its presence, without any sense of decay.
No flower blooms forever, and power and wealth will eventually fade, but we shouldn’t feel inferior or ashamed because of that. Because a prince is still a prince—their dignity and magnanimity don’t vanish just because they’ve lost wealth or influence, just like Ghent.
Because in the end, what truly matters is ourselves.