Ghent is an ancient city dating back to 629 A.D. After being fortified in the 11th and 12th Centuries, Ghent developed into a major cloth-making centre that was larger than Paris. Unfortunately, the Francophile aristocracy had a different agenda from that of the cloth weavers and merchants who relied on wool imported from England. One rebellion followed another, and the city had its financial and political ups and downs over the next few centuries.

Today Ghent is the fourth largest city of Belgium with approximately 250,000 inhabitants. In a unique way, the city has managed to preserve its medieval power while keeping up with the times. It is no surprise that Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, has been given several charming names over the years: the Historic Heart of Flanders, a city of all times and one of the most beautiful historic cities in Europe. It is internationally renowned because of its unique quinquennial flower show the Ghent Floralies, the International Film Festival of Flanders, the Festival of Flanders for Classical music, and the Municipal Museum for Contemporary Art (S.M.A.K.) led by Jan Hoet.

Visitors can admire some of the magnificent architectural wealth Ghent has to offer in a splendid combination of grandeur and idyllic charm. Traces of the middle ages still remain and add to the many places of interest tourists can visit throughout the City.

The Belgian State University RUG (Rijksuniversiteit Gent) continues to grow in importance. The presence of so many young people and students has turned Ghent into an important Flemish cultural centre.

We are delighted to hold the Joint European Conference in Reproduction and Fertility in the historic Aula building at the University, situated in the heart of the city allowing delegates to experience the culture of Ghent.

Ghent is situated at the intersection of the motorways E17 and E40 and can easily be reached by car. National and international trains stop in Ghent (stations Sint-Pieters and Dampoort). The city has an extensive public transport network serving the city centre and surrounding areas.