East Flanders

East Flanders is one of the five provinces of Flanders (Belgium). Its capital is Ghent. Four major rivers - Scheldt (Schelde), Leie, Dender and Durme - run through the province area and lend their name, fame and strength to the region.

Cities

• 1 Ghent — capital of the province with an impressive amount of medieval heritage and a numerous student population.
• 2 Aalst — famous for its carnival.
• 3 Berlare — the Nieuwdonk and Donkmeer lakes attract many people for recreational walks during the summer.
• 4 Beveren
• 5 Deinze — mostly famous for its picturesque banks of the Lys river and the Ooidonk castle.
• 6 Dendermonde
• 7 Eeklo —
• 8 Geraardsbergen
• 9 Lochristi — centre of the regional horticulture.
• 10 Lokeren
• 11 Oudenaarde — small town in the south of the province. Its location in the Flemish Ardennes makes it a great place for cycling.
• 12 Sint-Niklaas — famous for having the largest market square in Belgium, its annual balloon festival and many great cycling opportunities in the surrounding region (Waasland); gateway to the famous ghost village of Doel, and the splendid Dutch fortified city of Hulst just across the NL border.
• 13 Sint-Martens-Latem — a former heaven for artists, it has a few museums of regional painters.
• 14 Waasmunster
• 15 Zottegem - gateway to the hills of the Flemish Ardennes. Close ties with Lamoral, Count of Egmont: Egmont's castle, Egmont's museum, Egmont's crypt and two statues. Leeuwergem and Breivelde castles. Archaelogical Museum 'Archeocentrum Velzeke'. Cobble-stoned Paddestraat well-known from the Tour of Flanders.

Aalst Carnaval attracts big crowds every year

Understand

Dutch is the language spoken in the province of East Flanders and it's the only official language in the province and the rest of Flanders, the local dialect is called "East Flemish". English is also spoken by most people.

Get around

The capital Ghent

See

• Donkmeer. A large lake in Berlare. 

East Flanders is known for its cobbled streets and their usage in cycling competitions.

Do

• Cycling. This is the region where the famous Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) takes place. Most often the more hilly areas in the southern part of the province are used. Ride the same hills and cobbled sections as the pros. Other pro races that happen in this region: Gent-Wevelgem, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Omloop Het Niewsblad, Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 Harelbeke. 

Events

Aalst Carnaval is a three-day carnivalesque popular festival. Traditionally, on Sunday and Monday before Ash Wednesday the original carnival procession parades through the streets of Aalst.

Ronde Van Vlaanderen is the most important cycling race in Flanders of the year. The tour has its finish in Oudenaarde. In April.

Lokerse Feesten is a music festival in Lokeren in late July to early August.

Eat

• Mattentaarten, a local speciality from the town of Geraardsbergen.