Week van de Begraafplaatsen
Jaarlijkse erfgoedweek met rondleidingen die het funeraire erfgoed van de Gentse begraafplaatsen belichten.
ⓘ Recurring event. The 2026 date is the usual window; confirm the exact date closer to the event.
Position heritage cemetery tours as a unique cultural experience for local history enthusiasts and tourism boards seeking authentic, off-beat destination content.
- Discover the stories behind Ghent's historic graves and funerary art
- Local heritage week: guided tours of architectural and cultural significance in cemeteries
- Death and remembrance through the lens of urban heritage preservation
During the European Week of Cemeteries, Gent invites visitors to rediscover the city's cemeteries. Visitors can dive into the history of different cemeteries, take guided walks, and discover peaceful green spaces across Gent's eighteen cemeteries, which are green oases with significant natural beauty, in addition to being places for mourning and reflection. All activities are free; advance registration is required.
Thursday 21 – Sunday 31 May 2026
Main event period: guided cemetery walks, heritage discovery tours, and family activities across 18 Gent cemeteries
Monday 26 May 2026
Info session on Westerbegraafplaats about restored protected graves and reuse options
Selected days (exact dates per activity)
Guided tours at Westerbegraafplaats (history with David Troch, stargazing, green management); Campo Santo (children's treasure hunt, monument history); Gentbrugge (flora/fauna); Ledeberg (disappeared cemetery history); Afsnee (industrial heritage); Wondelgem, Sint-Amandsberg, Sint-Denijs-Westrem (various heritage and nature tours)
- Guided walks exploring cemetery history and green landscapes
- Literary guided tour with former city poet David Troch on Westerbegraafplaats, and children's treasure hunt at Campo Santo
- Fauna and flora discovery at Gentbrugge cemetery, stargazing on Westerbegraafplaats, and guided tours across multiple cemeteries from Afsnee to Executieoord Rieme-Oostakker
- Info session on Monday 26 May about restored protected graves available for reuse on Westerbegraafplaats
- Self-guided exploration with walking brochures available
- Campo Santo presented as "the Père Lachaise of Gent," a 19th-century cemetery where guides explain monument symbolism and life stories of those buried