GHENT (French, Gand; Flemish, Gend or Gent), a town in Belgium, capi tal of the province of East Flanders, at the confluence of the Lys with the Scheldt. It is upward of 6 miles in cir cumference, and is divided by canals into a number of islands connected with each other by bridges. Except in some of the older parts, it is well built, and has a number of fine promenades and many notable buildings. Among the latter are the cathedral of St. Bavon, dating from the 13th century; the church of St. Nicholas, the oldest in Ghent; the church of St. Michael, with a celebrated Cruci fixion by Van Dyke; the university, a handsome modern structure, with a li brary of about 100,000 volumes and 700 manuscripts; the City Hall, the belfry, a lofty square tower surmounted by a gilded dragon, Laid containing chimes of 44 bells; and Les Beguinages, extensive nunneries founded in the 13th century, the principal occupation of whose mem bers is lace-making. Ghent has long been celebrated as a manufacturing town, especially for its cotton and linen goods and lace. Other industries of im portance are sugar-refining, hosiery, thread, ribbons, instruments in steel, carriages, paper, hats, delftware, and tobacco. There are also machine works,
engine factories, roperies, tanneries, breweries, and distilleries. The trade is very important. Ghent was mentioned as a town in the 7th century. In the 9th century Baldwin, the first Count of Flanders, built a fortress here against the Normans. Under the counts of Flanders Ghent continued to increase. Two great revolts took place under the leadership of the Van Arteveldes (1338 and 1369) against Burgundy, and again in the 16th century against Charles V., and the citizens of Ghent, besides losing their privileges, had to pay for the erec tion of a citadel intended to keep them in bondage. In 1794 the Netherlands fell under the power of France, and Ghent became the capital of the depart ment of Escaut (Scheldt). In 1814 it became, along with Flanders, part of the Netherland. till the separation of Belgium and In 1914 the Ger mans occupied Ghent. Pop. (1919) 165, 655. See WAR.