Frequently asked questions

On weekdays we open our doors from 9:30 to 17:30. Please note: Wednesday is our regular closing day (except during the spring and autumn half-term holidays, on public holidays and during the Gentse Feesten).

At weekends and during the school holidays we are open from 10:00 to 18:00.

Whenever the museum is open! Perfect for starting your visit with a coffee or rounding it off with a beautiful design gift.

During the school holidays we throw our doors wide open every day from 10:00 to 18:00. Even on Wednesday you are more than welcome for an extra dose of culture and fun. See you soon!

Public holidays are museum days here! We are open from 10:00 to 18:00, even when the holiday falls on a Wednesday.

There are a few exceptions:

24 & 31 December: we open early at 09:30 and close at 16:00.

25 December & 1 January: closed.

On the first Thursday of every month we open our doors for Late Donderdag and stay open until 22:00.

Do you already know when you are coming?

Then buy your tickets in advance through the online ticket shop and book your time slot. That way your place is guaranteed.

You can also drop in spontaneously. As long as there are places left, you can buy a ticket at the desk.

Buy your tickets here.

Having trouble buying tickets online?

Call Museum Bookings Ghent on +32 9 210 10 75 and they will be happy to help you.

Please note: they are only available on weekdays from 9:00 to 12:30. Events and workshops can only be booked online.

Your ticket is a real all-in-one pass. It gives you access to the entire museum, including every temporary exhibition running at that moment. So you do not have to miss a thing!

Yes, that way your visit is guaranteed and you walk straight in without any hassle. When booking, simply choose the free ticket that applies to you.

We have separate free tickets for visitors with a museumPASS, City Card, ICOM, guide or press card, with a laissez-passer, for companions of people with a disability and for Ghent residents on the first Sunday of the month, at Late Donderdag and during the Gentse Feesten.

A shame your visit is not going ahead! But free up your time slot and make someone else happy. E-mail your tickets (or the name on the booking) to museum.design@gent.be. We will cancel your booking and gladly open up your spot for another visitor.

Not at all! The name on the tickets is the buyer's, but what really matters is the unique barcode on each one.

As long as it scans, you are more than welcome. Enjoy your visit!

We sent your tickets by e-mail. Do check your spam folder if you cannot find the message from no_reply@enviso.io straight away. Still nothing? Send an e-mail to museum.design@gent.be and we will send your tickets again.

Still no luck? No worries: our staff at the museum desk can easily find your tickets by name or booking number.

No panic! Your ticket is valid for the moment you chose, but you have up to half an hour after the start time to report to the desk. Running later than that? Have a word with one of our desk staff. We will see whether there is a gap left later in the day, so you can still visit the museum.

You can! There are various ways to enjoy the museum for less. Do remember to bring your physical card or pass to the desk, we need it for the check.

You visit us free of charge or at a reduced rate with:

• museumPASS, UiTPAS or teacher's card
• ICOM, VMV, guide or press card
• Laissez-passer
• Companion pass (for anyone accompanying a person with a disability)
• Ghent residents: free on the first Sunday of the month.
• Groups of at least 15 people
• UiTPAS Regio Gent

Good news! The inner garden, the new wing with its panoramic view over Ghent, the museum café, the shop and the toilets are all freely accessible. You do not need to book anything and can simply walk in during opening hours.

Would you like to discover the permanent collection or the temporary exhibitions? For that you do need a ticket.

At the museum you can pay with:

Cash

Visa

Mastercard

Maestro

Bancontact

Sodexo culture vouchers*

*For museum tickets only and non-refundable.

The payment methods available depend on the region in which you buy your ticket:

Belgium: Payconiq by Bancontact, Bancontact, Visa, Mastercard and iDEAL

The Netherlands: Visa, Mastercard and iDEAL

France: Visa and Mastercard

No problem, we will sort that out for you! Simply send an e-mail to museum.design@gent.be with the proof you received at the desk and your invoicing details. Our colleagues will make sure the invoice lands in your mailbox quickly!

Tickets are unfortunately non-refundable, but we are happy to help where we can. In exceptional cases we can offer you another day or time slot.

Do you think that applies to you? Then e-mail museum.design@gent.be. You will find more information in our terms and conditions.

You enter the museum at Drabstraat 10. This is where your visit begins!

You can come to the museum on foot, by bike, by public transport or by car. We are right in the city centre, so we are easy to reach! You will find all the information about the best route and parking options here.

You can discover our exhibitions in several languages! In most rooms the texts are available in Dutch, English and French. For our smaller or fast-changing installations we keep things more compact: there you will find the information in Dutch and English.

Yes, connect to Gent – Free wifi and stay online throughout the museum.

Yes, every floor can be reached by lift. So you can easily enjoy the whole museum with a buggy or a wheelchair.

Yes! We have an unsupervised cloakroom with lockers where you can leave your things. And good news: you do not need a coin for it.

Coming with a class? No worries about all those backpacks! We have three large storage bins that you lock with a key. They are completely free. Just ask for the key at the desk.

You will find our toilets on level -1 and they are fully gender-neutral. We think it is important that everyone feels at ease here. They are easy to reach by stairs or by lift.

No panic, it happens to the best of us! We keep all lost property carefully. Send a quick e-mail to museum.design@gent.be with a clear description of what you are missing. Have we found it? Then we will arrange how to get it back to you.

We prefer to keep the exhibition rooms completely snack-free! That way all those special design objects stay clean and crumb-free. You are very welcome to picnic in the inner garden or order something at the museum café.

We have gathered a lot of information for you on this page.

In the museum itself you will also find all kinds of aids such as sensory baskets, tactile panels and conversation cards.

Yes, all rooms are step-free and easy to reach by lift. Do you need help with something during your visit? Our room staff will be happy to assist you.

Parking spaces for people with a disability are provided at the edge of the car-free zone at the Poel. You will find more information here. 

Parking for people with reduced mobility

Throughout the museum you will find QR codes that let you read the exhibition texts more easily on your own device, or have them read aloud.

For groups of blind and partially sighted visitors we are happy to put together a guided tour in which you experience design with your hands.

Send us an e-mail at designmuseum.publiekswerking@stad.gent and together we will arrange an adapted tour.

No, dogs and other pets are not allowed inside the museum. For assistance dogs we are of course happy to make an exception: they are very welcome to accompany their owner during the visit.

Yes! Visitors with a disability bring their companion in free of charge.

Yes! If you like to prepare for your visit, or would rather read the information at your own pace (and on your own screen), you can go through all the texts of the permanent collection presentation online.

You will find them here.

We want you to enjoy the museum at your own pace. That is why 20 folding stools are ready at the entrance for you to take along on your visit.

You will also find resting spots throughout the museum where you can take a break. Would you like to sit on some of the design pieces? That is possible too! But only in our chair circle.

Absolutely! Whether you are 0 or 18, there is always something to experience here. Discover the world with our playful trails for the very youngest, or go for a challenging family route for the bigger (and grown-up) children. Because our programme changes regularly, every visit is a new adventure.

Have a look at our programme for children and families here.

Yes! All our rooms are buggy-proof, so simply bring your little one along on the adventure. The lift takes you easily to every floor.

Absolutely, you do not have to worry about your buggy or rollator. We have a special place for that. Our colleagues at the desk will point you in the right direction as soon as you arrive.

Of course! In our toilets you will find a changing table where you can change or feed your baby in peace.

Did you know that we are also a recognised BabySpot in Ghent? That is why we open our doors to non-visitors who need a moment to care for their little one.

Every class is welcome here! We have a tailored programme for everyone: from curious pre-schoolers (from the third year of nursery education) and primary and secondary school pupils to specific workshops and guided tours for higher education and for teachers.

Have a look at our programme for schools here.

Certainly not, the choice is yours! Would you like to discover the stories behind the collection pieces with one of our enthusiastic guides? Great, have a look at our guided tours here.

Would you rather explore on your own? That is absolutely fine too. Do book your places in advance, though. That way we know you are coming and we can prepare for your visit.

For the exhibition Public Matter(s): Design and Democracy there is a toolkit that lets you guide your pupils through the exhibitions yourself. You will find it here. Looking for extra background information to prepare your lesson? Then dive into our collection website or read the exhibition texts online beforehand. You will find a wealth of information about our objects there.

Yes, feel free to bring your own packed lunch. We provide a nice spot where your class can take a break and picnic together.

Sign up here for our newsletter for schools! That way you receive all the updates about new guided tours and unique workshops straight in your mailbox and you are the first to know.

You can! One guide takes a maximum of 15 visitors along. Are you coming with a larger group? Then simply book several guides, so that everyone can hear the stories behind our collection properly.

Bringing a whole crowd? Lovely! From 15 people we speak of a group and the group discount kicks in. You then pay only € 13 per adult instead of the standard rate.

Certainly not, the choice is yours. Would you like to discover the stories behind the collection pieces thanks to one of our enthusiastic guides? Great, have a look at our guided tours here.

Would you rather explore on your own? That is absolutely fine too. Do book your places in advance, though. That way we know you are coming and we can prepare for your visit.

Sign up here for our newsletter for groups! That way you receive all the updates about new guided tours and unique group formats straight in your mailbox and you are the first to hear about our special group activities.

Certainly! Feel free to capture your visit, as long as you do so without flash and without a tripod. Would you still like to use a tripod, or do you have a professional request? Then send an e-mail to museum.design@gent.be.

Please note: many objects are still covered by intellectual property rights. The images you take of them are therefore for personal use only.

No, not just like that. Are you taking professional images of a specific object? Then you may only distribute them once you have permission from the designer or their heirs. Most designs are still protected by rights. For personal use it is no problem, but for publications or commercial purposes you always need to ask.

Absolutely! We can only encourage sketching in pencil. Liquid materials (such as paint or ink) are better left at home. Coming with a group? Just mention it when you book and we will take care of the rest!

Do you have a question about one of our collection pieces, or are you looking for specific advice about design? Our colleague Eva Van Regenmortel will be happy to help! Contact her at designmuseum.collectie@stad.gent.

You certainly can! We are happy to open our archive to researchers, students and curious visitors. We have several archives, each with its own story.

You will find more information about the collections and how to consult them here.

Yes, our collection is part of the Kunstenbibliotheek. Here you will find the treasures of Design Museum Gent, STAM, S.M.A.K., KASK and the Ghent Guides all under one roof on the Bijloke campus.

Whether you are looking for information about design, contemporary art or the history of Ghent: everyone is welcome to browse or to borrow books during opening hours.

You will find more information here.

How lovely that you are thinking of us! We are always curious about special pieces that could enrich our collection. Are you considering a donation? Then get in touch with Eva Van Regenmortel at designmuseum.collectie@stad.gent.

It helps us enormously if you send some photos along and tell us a little about the background or the history of the object. That way we can see whether it could find a place in our collection.

Great that you are considering putting your shoulder to the wheel for our museum. Whether you want to make a statement as a company or contribute as an individual: there are plenty of ways to become part of our story. All the information is listed here.

Absolutely! Whether you are planning an unforgettable wedding reception, looking for an impressive corporate reception, or need an inspiring place as an artist: our rooms are open to you.

Curious which space suits your plans best? Take a quick look at the available rooms here and fill in the form to book.