Every Saturday, Ghent Port Company organizes free tours by boat in the port of Ghent. For two hours everyone can experience the port from the water. The tour of the port is entirely free of charge for private persons. All you have to do is register in advance. For associations and organizations we can even provide made-to-measure tours. With these boat tours the Port Company wants to have you discover the port in a unique way.
Experience the port from the water
On board of the port yacht “Jacob van Artevelde” you can experience the port every Saturday, both for private persons and for associations and organizations.
The point of departure is the Rigakaai opposite the Weba furniture store. The tour takes two hours and en route an explanation is given on Ghent as the gateway to Europe. The yacht sails as far as the Kluizendok and back along the docks, quays, seagoing vessels that moor from all over the world and inland vessels that load and unload there. Along the way, you can also observe the chemical companies, the grain silos of Euro-Silo next to the R4-East, the Circular Canal that links the port to the North of France, the Stora Enso paper mill, the terminals with fruit juice for the whole of Europe, the Volvo factory, one of the largest clusters of biofuel companies in Europe, the Electrabel power station, the Mercatordok where big ships carrying rolling stock leave on and off for Scandinavia, ArcelorMittal and numerous transhipment quays, among other things.
Free of charge but you have to register
The tours by boat are free but you have to register. The tours take place all year round except in July (because then they are organized during the Ghent Festival).
The tours are from 10 to 12 a.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m. A distinction is made between private persons on the one hand and associations and organizations on the other.
Tours for private persons
- Departure: at the Rigakaai in Ghent.
- There is room for eighty people. You can register for maximum six persons. On board you can also buy a drink.
- There is always a guide aboard who gives you an explanation (only in Dutch) on the port during the tour.
- Registration can be done on-line via the registration form where you can see all (still) available tours (by date and hour) or by phone to Ghent Port Company at +32 9 251 05 50.
Tours for associations and organizations
- Departure: at the Rigakaai in Ghent.
- There is room for eighty people.
- There is always a guide aboard for whom the association pays 70 euros.
- If an association wishes to have catering on board then this can be arranged.
- Please contact the PR department at Ghent Port Company via +32 9 251 05 50 or at pr@havengent.be to register and for a tailor-made programme.
The yacht Jacob Van Artevelde is not easily accessible to wheelchair users.
Also during the Ghent Festival
Traditionally, the Port Company also organizes tours by boat in the port during the Ghent Festival.