A peaceful walk away from the city centre and a simple one to follow too.

Go to the level of the huge building of Bond Moyson in Waaistraat and walk straight on.

In the 19th century, this neighbourhood was built up by rich industrialists who speculated that the area of the Vrijdagmarkt would become a large shopping centre. To their great disappointment this honour fell to Veldstraat.

Via Speldenstraat and Goudstraat you come out at Minnemeers.

The Museum of Industrial Architecture and Textiles here is worth visiting, as well as NT2, an annexe to the Dutch Theatre Company of Ghent. The Huidvetters brug is one of the prettiest bridges in Ghent and could well be linking two areas of Paris. The literary quarter is on the opposite bank of the Leie. The lock on the Baudeloo kaai marks the end of the Ghent Basin and is only opened by arrangement with the lock keeper.

The junction with Steendam can be busy. Continue to follow the Leie and walk along Nieuwbrugkaai.

The branch of the Leie on your left provides a direct link to the modern port area. The narrow streets on the opposite side are built on the historic site of the abbey and a Spanish castle. Art lovers can visit the large gallery on the right-hand side.

After the Veerkaai you come out on the Vigneplein. To your right, on the corner, stands the Van Eyck swimming pool that still looks as it did in 1920 and which is regularly used for filming. You will see that the Leie divides into two here and comes to an end.

Ghent was founded on this spot in 630 and on the opposite side lie the ruins of the first buildings of this settlement.