Kunstenkwartier is the Brooklyn of Ghent.
Kunstenkwartier named the Brooklyn of Ghent
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Kunstenkwartier the Brooklyn of Ghent.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Ghent's verdict went to Kunstenkwartier ahead of Patershol, Prinsenhof and DOK-Noord, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Kunstenkwartier the Brooklyn of Ghent, and it was not a hard call. Record shops, natural wine, and galleries all inside a ten-minute walk, students setting the pace during the week, and a whole strip that seems designed for lingering. Locals are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Kunstenkwartier's independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Ghent verdict: brooklynof.com/ghent
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/ghent
Runner-up neighborhoods: Patershol, Prinsenhof, DOK-Noord
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.