Dampoort (Ghent)
Encyclopedia
Dampoort is a neighbourhood in the city of Ghent
in Belgium
.
Nowadays it is mainly known as the location of railway station Gent-Dampoort
and a major crossroads. In former times it used to be the eastern gate of the city (poort being Dutch for "gate"). It opened the city towards the region of Waasland
(or Land van Waas) and Antwerp.
It is also where the commercial seaport of Ghent links with the inner-city canal
s. Close to the Dampoort is Portus Ganda, the yachting area of the city, which opened in 2005, at the former confluence of the rivers Schelde (Scheldt) and Leie.
The Dampoort neighbourhood is characterised by a bustling mix of people from different origins: Turkish, Eastern Europeans, native Belgians, Moroccan and practically any other nationality the city harbours.
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Nowadays it is mainly known as the location of railway station Gent-Dampoort
Gent-Dampoort railway station
Gent-Dampoort is the second largest railway station in Ghent. It is situated on Belgian railway line 59 and Belgian railway line 58 . The current building was built in 1973 by architects Dirk Servaes and Johan Beyne. The railway station is situated in the neighbourhood Dampoort in Ghent....
and a major crossroads. In former times it used to be the eastern gate of the city (poort being Dutch for "gate"). It opened the city towards the region of Waasland
Waasland
The Waasland is a region in Flanders, Belgium, although without any administrative functions. It is also called the Land van Waas ; Waas most likely refers to the soggy soil of the region even though the exact etymology is unknown - one possibility is a connection to the English word 'wasteland'...
(or Land van Waas) and Antwerp.
It is also where the commercial seaport of Ghent links with the inner-city canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s. Close to the Dampoort is Portus Ganda, the yachting area of the city, which opened in 2005, at the former confluence of the rivers Schelde (Scheldt) and Leie.
The Dampoort neighbourhood is characterised by a bustling mix of people from different origins: Turkish, Eastern Europeans, native Belgians, Moroccan and practically any other nationality the city harbours.