6 Best Shopping in Ghent, Ghent and the Leie

Named after a clutch of abandoned angel statuettes found by Isabelle Steel when she opened the shop in 1980, this remains a treasure trove of vintage and eccentric ephemera, including dolls, tin boxes, and religious items. Her daughter, Ganesha, runs the Fallen Angels Gallery next door, which is filled with posters of old Belgian advertisements and movie posters. 

A daily flower market is held on the Kouter, although it's best to visit on Sunday morning (7 am--1 pm), when the full market kicks in and there's often a brass band playing (April–September).

Part of a family business since 1904, Temmerman eschews Belgium's chocolate obsession for locally made artisanal candy and gingerbread. The family is also credited with inventing what is now the famous Ghent cuberdons (Ghent noses); raspberry-flavored sweets, the insides of which stretch out like cooked mozzarella when pulled apart. 

You'll find this revered and strong-tasting mustard served all over the city, but you can only buy it here, along with a dazzling array of spices, pickles, honeys, and teas. This family-run shop has been in Ghent since 1790, and no preservatives are used in their products. 

The largest market in town is the attractive and historic Vrijdagmarkt, held Friday 7:30–1 and (as a smaller version) Saturday 11–6:30. This huge square is where leaders have rallied the people of Ghent from the Middle Ages to the present day. It is dominated by a turret that was part of the tanner's guild house, and the statue in the middle is of Jacob van Artevelde, who led a rebellion starting here in 1338, defending the neutrality of the city and Flanders during the Hundred Years' War. These days, you're more likely to march off with a supply of Gentse mokken (syrup-soaked biscuits) or the famously strong Ghent mustard than in anger.

Created by archaeologist-turned-chocolatier Nicolas Vanaise, Yuzu reflects its owner's obsession with all things Japanese. Hence, even in the land of chocolate, it stands out for its strange combinations of ingredients and stark minimalist interior. The selection is constantly changing, but flavors such as wasabi, sake, and Cuban tobacco have been featured in the past.