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Rebel rebelLocated in the heart of Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium, Ghent has a rich history. During the 13th and 14th centuries, as the centre of the Flemish cloth trade, it was the largest town in Western Europe.
The city's population is known to be headstrong and they rose in revolt on a number of occasions through the centuries, which often resulted in punishment being metred out to the rebellious inhabitants. In 1540, Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, stormed Ghent, abolished its privileges and built a new castle at the city's expense. Ghent slowly slipped into decline, until a big push began to attract new business this century.
Besides being the location for the Flanders International Film Festival, Ghent is also home to the Flanders Music Festival and to one of Europe's top flower shows, the Floralien.
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