NYT Tips Ghent as Alternative to Venice, Amsterdam

The New York Times has recommended Ghent as an alternative canal city destination, listing the Belgian city among six alternatives to popular tourist hotspots Venice and Amsterdam. The recommendation, published in a travel feature on July 28, highlights Ghent’s growing appeal as a destination that offers the charm of Europe’s famous canal cities without the overwhelming crowds.

Context: The Overtourism Challenge

The recommendation comes as Venice and Amsterdam grapple with record visitor numbers. Amsterdam’s canals attract approximately 10 million tourists annually, while Venice welcomes around 30 million visitors per year, according to VRT NWS. Both cities have become symbols of Europe’s overtourism crisis, prompting authorities to take unprecedented measures.

Venice introduced an entry fee for day-trippers in 2024, with rates ranging from €5 to €10 and calls to raise it to €50. Amsterdam has launched multiple campaigns to encourage better visitor behaviour, and residents have even resorted to suing the city over mass tourism, as Euronews reported.

Ghent’s Appeal: History Meets Modernity

In its article “Beyond Amsterdam and Venice: 6 Delightful European Canal Cities,” the New York Times describes Ghent as a city where visitors can experience the best of both worlds. “People are often too busy flocking to Bruges to experience Ghent’s charm,” the newspaper notes.

The NYT praises Ghent’s walkability, noting that “the historical city, along the Scheldt River and a tributary, the Leie, is compact and mostly car-free, making it eminently walkable.” Visitors are encouraged to “wander through about 1,400 years of history by visiting the Gravensteen, a medieval castle, along with the city’s three beguinages — quiet courtyards once inhabited by women who devoted themselves to their faith without taking monastic vows.”

Beyond its medieval heritage, the NYT calls Ghent “a pioneer of street art” with “a fantastic array of vintage shops,” highlighting the city’s modern, creative character.

Alongside Ghent, the NYT’s list includes Haarlem in the Netherlands, Aveiro in Portugal, Hamburg in Germany, Strasbourg in France, and Livorno in Italy.

Ghent’s Proactive Tourism Management

Ghent’s inclusion on the list is notable given the city’s own efforts to manage tourism sustainably. The city has implemented several measures to prevent the overtourism problems plaguing other European destinations, as documented by VRT NWS in its coverage of mass tourism across Europe.

These measures include a ban on new hotels within the city ring, limits on cruise ships to prevent large tourist masses, and an adjusted tourist tax to counter the growing number of Airbnb rooms. The city focuses on attracting “pyjama tourists” — visitors who stay longer and contribute more to the local economy — rather than “selfie tourists” who make quick visits to the city centre.

The recognition from the NYT comes as more American tourists are finding their way back to Ghent after a dip during the coronavirus crisis, according to Het Nieuwsblad.

What This Means for Ghent

For a city that has carefully balanced tourism growth with quality of life for residents, the NYT endorsement represents a significant validation of Ghent’s approach. The recognition positions Ghent as a destination that offers the historic charm and canal-side appeal of Venice and Amsterdam without the tourist congestion that has come to define those cities.

As travellers increasingly seek alternatives to overcrowded destinations, Ghent’s combination of medieval architecture, vibrant street art, and manageable crowds positions it well to attract a new wave of visitors seeking an authentic European canal city experience without the tourist crush.

Looking Ahead

The NYT recommendation is likely to boost Ghent’s international profile, particularly among American travellers planning European trips. The city’s challenge will be to accommodate growing interest while maintaining the qualities that earned it this recognition in the first place — its compact walkability, its authentic charm, and its ability to offer a canal city experience that feels personal rather than overwhelming.

For travellers weary of Venice’s gondola traffic jams or Amsterdam’s crowded canals, Ghent offers a compelling alternative: a city where history, art, and waterways come together in a setting that remains, for now, refreshingly unhurried.