Ghent
Ghent is the capital and largest city of the province of East Flanders, and the third largest city in Belgium, after Brussels and Antwerp. It is also Belgium’s largest student city, giving it a young, international, and vibrant atmosphere throughout the year.
The city is renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved historic centre. Iconic landmarks include the Gravensteen, a medieval castle located in the heart of the city, and the famous three towers, St Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry, and St Bavo’s Cathedral, which together define Ghent’s unmistakable skyline. The city is equally well known for its picturesque canals, particularly around Graslei and Korenlei, offering some of the most beautiful urban views in Belgium.
Quirky Ghent offers a fascinating cultural cocktail where centuries of history blend seamlessly with trendy, modern urban life. It is a city where people enjoy life: relaxed, welcoming, and human in scale. As a major university city with a strong international outlook, Ghent combines academic excellence and intellectual energy with creativity, innovation, and a lively cultural scene.
During your stay, don’t miss the chance to admire the world-famous masterpiece The Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers, housed in St Bavo’s Cathedral.
More inspiration and practical information can be found via Visit Ghent.
Other interesting places to visit nearby
Belgium’s compact geography makes it easy to combine your stay in Ghent with visits to several remarkable cities and destinations:
- Bruges – A perfectly preserved medieval city
- Antwerp – Fashion, art, and a vibrant port city
- Brussels – Europe’s capital, rich in culture and history
- Ypres – Historic city with deep World War I heritage
- Leuven – Lively university town with historic charm
- Dinant – Dramatic scenery along the Meuse River
- Spa – Famous thermal town in the Ardennes
- Durbuy – Often called the smallest city in the world
Conference venue
The 53rd Annual Meeting of the European Finance Association will be held at the Vlerick Business School campus from August 19-22, 2026.
Address: Reep 1, 9000 Ghent (Belgium)
Vlerick Business School is a prestigious Belgian business school with campuses in Ghent, Leuven, and Brussels. It was established in 1999 through the merger of the MBA programs of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Instituut Professor Vlerick voor Management of Ghent University. Vlerick is recognized and subsidized as a higher education institute by decree. Vlerick Business School is one of only two Triple Crown-accredited business schools in Belgium, holding accreditations from the American AACSB, the British AMBA, and the European EQUIS.
Vlerick off ers MBA and Masters in Management programs, as well as general and specialized management courses, alongside custom-designed training for individual companies. The school has an extensive alumni network of over 23,000 graduates across more than 100 countries. In 2015, the Financial Times ranked the Vlerick MBA program among the Top 100 MBA programs worldwide and within the Top 10 for Entrepreneurship.