Ghent - Belfry

At the entrance to the tower platform, from where there are good views of Ghent, on the ground floor is the room, called "Secreet", where the privileges of the city were kept in an iron chest. On the fourth floor the workings of the clock (1670), the oldest in Belgium, and the 52-bell carillon can be seen.

The Roeland bell was cast in 1315 and installed ten years later in the tower. It has often called the population of Ghent to arms; in 1659 it was melted down and from the metal Peter Hemony cast a carillon of 37 bells. At the same time three large bells, the Triomfanten were made, the largest of which, again being called Roeland, cracked in 1914 and was removed in 1950. It now stands west of the belfry on the Burgermeester Braunplein. Next to the bell is a fountain with kneeling figures, "Bron der Geknielden" (Youth Fountain) by George Minne (1892).

The new Roeland weighing 5,000kg was put in place in 1948.