Ghent

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Port city and capital of East Flanders province, northwest Belgium, situated at the junction of the rivers Lys and Schelde, 55 km/34 mi northwest of Brussels; population (2003 est) 226,900. Industries include textiles, chemicals, electronics, metallurgy, and motor-vehicle manufacturing. It is also the trade centre of a flower- and bulb-producing region. One of Belgium's oldest cities (first mentioned in the 7th century), it was the historic capital of Flanders. The cathedral of St Bavon (12th–14th centuries) has paintings by van Eyck and Rubens.

History
Ghent was first mentioned in the 7th century, and in the Middle Ages became the chief town of Flanders. A major wool-producing centre, it was rivalled only by Bruges and Ypres. It waged violent wars against Burgundy. Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, rebelled against both Charles V and Philip II of Spain, and was several times captured by the French. The city was incorporated in the kingdom of the United Netherlands under the peace of Paris in 1814, and passed to Belgium on the establishment of that kingdom in 1830.

Red symbolizes blood. Yellow represents sunshine. Green stands for the islands' riches. Black reflects the Melanesian population. Effective date: 30 July 1980. >>