The Belgian city of Ghent is offering a new app to guide and delight visitors with augmented reality experiences. At three iconic locations in the historic UNESCO gem, visitors using the new Lens on Ghent app will receive a notification inviting them to see what life would have been like there in days gone by.
Quays, concert halls and palaces
The landmarks chosen for the augmented reality treatment are all sited along the citywalk and include the Graslei and Korenlei quays, where merchant ships and bustling port activity at the confluence of the Schelde and Leie rivers will show visitors how medieval Ghent took its place at the heart of Flanders’ grain supply.
The second place where history will come to life is the old Bijloke hospital site which dates back to the 13th century but is now a campus for culture and the arts. Inside the concert hall, the Lens on Ghent app will take visitors on an extraordinary journey through the history of a building that is usually not accessible to the general public.
We invite visitors to take the time to really get to know the beauty and story of the city. Ghent cannot be discovered and experienced in one day, and this app proves that once again.
Bram Van Braeckevelt, Ghent Alderman for Tourism
And thirdly, over at the Prinsenhof, birthplace of Emperor Charles V, visitors can revel in the splendour of the walled palace and courtyard gardens, reimagined as they once were, frequented by the rich and titled.
Audio-guided walks
The app also offers an interactive 13-kilometre walk accompanied by an audio guide that shares interesting facts from Ghent’s history. The walk can also be adapted by the user to create alternative loops taking in other areas of the city.
“We are very grateful to the city for working with us on this beautiful blend between culture, tourism and cutting-edge technology, and are confident that this app has potential in other cities and towns as well,” said Jim Casteele, the Consumer Market Lead for Proximus.
Developed in partnership with VisitGent and Proximus, the app is completely free to use. It draws on Proximus’ 5G network in Ghent’s city centre. Available in Dutch, French and English, it is due for launch on the Google Play Store and the App Store in the coming days.
