What to do and see in Flanders, Flanders: The Best Specialty Museums

Our Mission No inhabitant of the "Zwinstreek" and West Zeeland Flanders was spared repression and hardship between 1940 and 1944. This dark period in our history is the museum’s main theme. It is precisely this phase of our local past that we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren, in the hope that such war violence will not be repeated. Young people need to know that freedom has a price, a price our ancestors paid with hard currency. We must cherish freedom. This important message of peace and tolerance is given daily in the For Freedom Museum.

STAM is the Ghent city museum. It presents the story of the city of Ghent. A permanent circuit leads visitors along a chronological trail of objects and multimedia which trace the development and growth of Ghent. Temporary exhibitions explore the concept of 'urbanity' from different angles. STAM's real showpiece, its raison d'être, is the city itself. A visit to the city museum is not complete without a visit to Ghent. STAM is ten years old this year... time for a make-over for the permanent exhibition. From December 7th you will mingle with parchment abbots, enterprising women, amorous rebels and self-seeking benefactors from the Middle Ages to the present day as you make your way through the new-look 'Story of Ghent’. You will see and feel the city grow and change shape. You will discover some of the city’s secrets and of course there will also be a fresh version of our (still gigantic) aerial photograph.

Full scale reconstructions of war scenes, an extended collection of weapons, war equipment and photos make this museum to a true must-see!The chapel, in which the museum is located, dates back from the early twenties. This chapel was built directly across the Hooge Crater cemetery in memory of the many fallen soldiers on the battle fields of ‘Hooge’ over a period of 4 years. Rare military clothing of the troops, that where fighting in the ‘Ypres Salient’ (Ieperboog) are exposed in glass displays. Also you can see some full scale scenes of the Great War battle fields, very authentically reproduced. The theme of the scenes is very divers: German bunkers, British trenches and full scale horses with cavalry troops on their backs.

Permanent exhibition: 'From neanderthal to Gallo-Roman' Discover the multifaceted story of man in the Limburg region: from prehistory to the end of the Roman period. Familiarize yourself with the major transition points and marvel at more than 2,000 objects from the museum’s own collection, beautifully presented in a highly-original set by Niek Kortekaas and De Gregorio & Partners. Temporary exhibition: 'Timeless Beauty' This exhibition signals a departure from what you usually expect from the Gallo-Roman Museum. An evocative interplay of images of sensual nakedness by the art photographer Marc Lagrange, intriguing texts by Roman authors and authentic objects leading you deeper into the mysteries of feminine beauty.

The MUSEUM AT THE YSER is a museum with a message. This message is PEACE, FREEDOM AND TOLERANCE and the idea that violence never brings peace. The museum has 22 floors. Entrance Fees Per person € 8,00 ; CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Younger than 7 free ; 7-17 year € 4 The Museum at the Yser (the Yser Tower) is open daily January - February - March - October - November - December: from 9.00 to 17.00 (Sat., Sun-. and Bank Holidays: from 10.00 to 17.00) April - May - June - July - August - September: from 9.00 to 18.00 (Sat., Sun. and Bank Holidays: from 10.00 to 18.00) Closed on 24/25/26/31 December , on 01/02 January + 3 weeks after the Christmas holidays. => The domain is accessible up to 1 hour before closing time. => Dogs are not allowed (except guide dogs).