In the Footsteps of Jan and Hubert Van Eyck

You do not need a ticket to follow the Van Eyck brothers around Ghent. This self-guided walk, created with a local guide organisation, leads you through the old centre past statues, murals, facades and squares connected with Jan and Hubert van Eyck and with their Ghent Altarpiece, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. It covers about 2.6 kilometres, roughly 3,500 steps, and passes fourteen stops in a logical order, with directions between them so you can follow it without a guide. It begins at the Kouter square, where bronze leaves inspired by the altarpiece decorate the ground, and it ends at Graffiti Alley. Along the way you see the house where the brothers are thought to have had their studio, their statue at Maaseikplein, the cathedral that holds the painting, the quays and several murals that reimagine the altarpiece. The route is suitable for families with young children, and a downloadable pack of activities and games is available, so it works as a treasure hunt as well as a tour.

The walk gives shape to a day in Ghent and ties together places you might otherwise see separately. It starts at De Kouter, where thirteen bronze leaves by the artist Jessica Diamond echo the altarpiece. It then passes the corner of Vogelmarkt and Koestraat, where reliefs of the Van Eyck brothers decorate a white house on what is believed to be the site of their studio.

At Maaseikplein you find the statue of the brothers unveiled in 1913, and on Sint-Baafsplein you reach St Bavo's Cathedral, home of the painting itself. The route then threads through the narrow streets of Patershol, where you can study the facades.

Further along, a large mural of the altarpiece, painted for a film about the rescue of art in the Second World War, brightens a wall on a side street, and the Korenmarkt holds the twelfth century Borluut house. Copper coins set into the road at the Grasbrug mark the medieval trade route, and on Burgstraat a facade shows the counts of Flanders. The walk continues to the Sint-Veerleplein, the old fish market square, and the Kraanlei, with notable facades, before reaching Waaistraat, where another mural reimagines an altarpiece panel with flowers and street art.

At the Vrijdagmarkt you meet the statue of Jacob van Artevelde, and on the way to the end you pass a mural by Hyuro before arriving at Werregarenstraat, the Graffiti Alley. The directions between stops are given step by step, so you only need to keep to the order.

Plan about two hours at a gentle pace, longer if you go inside the cathedral or stop for coffee. Print or download the directions in advance, since you will need them as you walk, and wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles. The route is mostly level and pedestrian, though some streets are uneven.

The walk is free to follow, though entry to the cathedral visitor centre or any museum along the way is separate. It is a good first activity for art lovers and a good second activity for anyone who has seen the altarpiece and wants more context.

If you have children, print the activity pack so they can hunt for details, and if you are on your own, treat it as a slow, rewarding way to get to know the old town. In winter the light fades early, so start in the morning or early afternoon to see the murals and facades at their best. The restoration of the altarpiece may mean that only some panels are on view at the cathedral and museum, so check the current arrangement before you go.