Archaeologists may have uncovered medieval city gate in Ghent

Archaeologists in Ghent, Belgium, believe they may have uncovered the remains of the medieval Ketelpoort, one of the oldest gates of the city’s first fortification wall. The possible discovery came during excavations at the Ketelbrug area, near the Old Justice Palace, as part of a major urban redevelopment project.

According to VRT NWS, the excavation team found older brick sewers, part of a cobblestone pavement, and the foundation of a late medieval building constructed with bricks nearly 30 centimeters long. Below this structure, they discovered what may be the substructure of the city gate, built in Doornikse (Tournai) limestone.

A gate from Ghent’s first city wall

“There was a substructure in Doornikse limestone,” said Robrecht Vanoverbeke, an archaeologist at BAAC Vlaanderen, the company conducting the excavations. “That material was used between the 11th and 13th centuries. Possibly this was part of the Ketelpoort, a medieval entrance to the city.”

The identification is strengthened by a 1990 report from city archaeologists, who noted a brick wall connected to the Ketelpoort just a few meters from the current discovery site, based on a painting from 1534.

The Ketelpoort, also known as the “Porta Gallica” (French Gate) because the road beneath it led toward France, was one of the medieval gates of Ghent’s first city wall. As Gent-Geprent documents, the gate consisted of an inner and outer gate on both sides of the Ketelvest canal, connected by a bridge. It was demolished in 1777-1780, and the current Ketelbrug now stands on the same site.

The Ketelvest itself was dug in the 11th century as a moat-like waterway forming one of the boundaries of what is now called the Gentse Kuip. The water was known to be so turbulent that it was considered dangerous, with water that churned like boiling water in a kettle—hence the name.

Where two settlements merged

The discovery is significant not just for its rarity but for what it reveals about Ghent’s urban development. In the early Middle Ages, Ghent consisted of separate settlement cores that gradually grew together into one city. The area around the Ketelpoort was where the Sint-Pietersdorp settlement—centered around the abbey—and the core around the medieval harbor eventually merged, as the City of Ghent’s archaeological research page explains.

The project area has high archaeological potential, and according to the Immovable Heritage Decree of 2016, archaeological investigation is required before ground-disturbing works can proceed.

Excavations amid a major redevelopment

The excavations are part of the Petercelle-as project, the complete redevelopment of the busiest tram line in Flanders, running between Gent-Sint-Pieters station and the Veldstraat. As VRT NWS reported, the works began in April 2026, span 22 work zones, and are expected to last until summer 2029 at a cost of over 23 million euros. De Lijn, Farys, and the City of Ghent share the costs.

Each work zone is handled in three phases: archaeological excavation first, then sewer works, then road and tram construction. The City of Ghent describes the project as covering the area from the city ring road to the Korenmarkt, including the Veldstraat, Koophandelsplein, Ketelbrug, and surrounding streets.

In the Zonnestraat, archaeologists have also found remains of the facade of a stone medieval townhouse. Excavations continue there, as the ground is much less disturbed than elsewhere. The foundations of the Ketelpoort have meanwhile been re-covered with soil for preservation.

A city rich in medieval remains

The possible Ketelpoort discovery follows closely on another significant find in Ghent. Just days earlier, on August 27, archaeologists from BAAC uncovered a medieval cemetery under the Vlasmarkt, with an estimated 240 skeletons dating from the 11th to 18th centuries, as VRT NWS reported. The City of Ghent confirmed that the skeletons will remain in the ground for now, preserved for future study.

What to watch for

While the identification of the Ketelpoort foundations remains preliminary, further analysis and continued excavation in the Zonnestraat could provide additional confirmation. The discoveries highlight how major infrastructure projects can simultaneously serve modern needs and uncover valuable historical information about Ghent’s medieval past. As the Petercelle-as works continue through 2029, archaeologists will keep digging—and the city’s buried history will keep emerging.