STAM Ghent City Museum

About

STAM Ghent City Museum is the city museum of Ghent, Belgium, housed in the historic Bijloke Abbey building at Godshuizenlaan 2 in the heart of the city. The museum narrates the story of Ghent from its origins in the early 19th century to the present day through a permanent exhibition called "Het Verhaal van Gent", lasting about 15 objects with wall‑mounted maps, digital animations and unique artefacts. Temporary exhibitions explore themes such as urbanity, design, Flemish heritage and contemporary art, drawing visitors into interactive storytelling. The museum also hosts a range of digital exhibitions – the most recent being "Gentse Gronden" and the evolving digital scavenger hunt "De Vierkante Kilometer". These online shows bring the city’s history to life via photographs, soundscapes and 360° imagery, and encourage visitors to explore the gallery space further. The museum’s curatorial focus is on the city itself, offering a deep dive into the civic identity of Ghent and the artifacts that shaped it. Visitors can also explore the adjacent Kunstenbibliotheek, a specialised art library opened in 2017. With more than 100,000 titles covering fine arts, design, architecture and social history, the library provides programmatic workshops and research support for scholars and the public alike. STAM's main entrance is on Godshuizenlaan, and the staff is available for guidance during opening hours, while the museum offers free admission to the general public.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes