Fries, beer and so much more of what Belgium has to offer!

A few spots have opened up again for this meet-up. The first people to register will get a confirmation that they can join the meet-up soon. Hope to see you in Ghent!

Hi! We invite to our meet-up in the beautiful city of Ghent, in the Flemish part of Belgium, from the 10th to the 12th of July.

In the summer of 2024, Ghent is truly the place to be for young people in Europe. As European Youth Capital of 2024, the city will be buzzing with energy and there will be events taking place all over.

Maybe you’ll want to admire the centuries-old architecture on a terrace by the water, sipping your Belgian beer and tasting the famous Belgian fries? Or maybe you want to discover the city by boat and taste the famous local candies, the purple cone-shaped, jelly-filled cuberdons or neuzekes (‘noses’)?

You’ll get to do it all during our free 3-day program for DiscoverEU-travelers.

We’ll meet up in Ghent on Wednesday the 10th of July in the afternoon and start with teambuilding activities. You’ll get to know each other, and you’ll learn all about the city of Ghent and Belgium. 

We’ll visit the mysterious Castle of the Counts. It is the only remaining mediaeval castle with a moat and largely intact defense system in Flanders, and it is impressively located in the heart of the city of Ghent. You’ll learn about the castle’s turbulent past, and you’ll see Ghent’s fascinating mediaeval history come to live.

At night, you’re free to explore the city with your new friends!

On Thursday we have a full day of activities planned. There’s something for everyone, we balance out active activities with more relaxing and creative ones. We’ll start with a cooking workshop, where you’ll get to create and taste Belgian cuisine.

In the afternoon, you’ll explore the city by kayak. Ghent’s rivers and canals have been the city’s heart and soul for centuries, so seeing the city by boat is a must.

After dinner, you’re free to explore the city further as you wish.

On Friday morning, you can enjoy your breakfast at the hostel. There will be time to reflect on the memories and friends you made in Belgium. What will you take with you from this time you spent in Belgium? And what’s next on your DiscoverEU-adventure? You’ll also have time to pack, so you can be on your way to your next destination after lunch.

All meals, the activities and a two nights stay at a hostel are free for all participants of this meet-up. Want to join? Please register here before June 10th. Spots are limited, we can accommodate about 25 participants, so don’t wait too long to register. It’s first come, first served. You can register by clicking on the “Register” button at the bottom of this page. 

After the registration deadline, we will kindly ask you to pay 25 euro as a warranty, to confirm your registration. You will get the full warranty back in cash at the meet-up. This way, we make sure all spots go to participants who are committed to joining the meet-up. 

Please let us know if for any reason it is difficult for you to pay the warranty. We will accommodate you, so you can participate without the warranty.

The Dutch speaking national agency JINT works together with the German speaking one Jugendbüro to facilitate this Meet-Up. If you have any questions about the meet-up or the program, you can contact Sarah from JINT at sarah.vangenechten@jint.be. Please be aware that the program may be subject to changes. We'll update all participants on the final program via e-mail.