The most attractive and financially historic area of Ghent is the Graslei and the Koornlei. These are the names of the two streets which lie along the banks of the old port of Gent. Unusually for a harbour it is right in the middle of the city.

The Flemish word 'Graslei' means 'herbs / vegetables street'. The Flemish word 'Koornlei' stands for 'Corn street'. These are big clues as to what trading activity occurred at these locations. Ghent's wealth was from trading.

The merchants were very successful as can be seen by the magnificent buildings that surround the harbour. Its elegant facades represent different architectural styles, reflecting a separate period of history. This is one of the places where you can catch boats for the canal tour. The tour is explained in 4 different languages: Dutch (Flemish), English, German and French. The boat tour takes about 45 minutes and depart every 20 minutes. Its a nice way to relax for an hour on a sunny day.

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