News and articles about the Boekentoren
On Thursday 15 October, five heritage organisations in Ghent will symbolically auction off their heritage items at the Boekentoren, in protest against the Flemish government’s spending cuts.
The Book Tower is lit up in red until 19 October. A warning signal for our heritage. Keep the lights on. Spread the word.
Open letter to the Minister of Culture: Boekentoren and heritage libraries protest total withdrawal of Flemish operating subsidies.
In het tijdschrift faro blikt de universiteitsbibliotheek terug op het drieluik Lost and Found – Caring for What Is (about to Disappear).
Currently on display in the collection presentation: the Book of Hours by Alexandre Petau.
HILO 16mm collectie uit de Boekentoren te zien tijdens 'Film-Olympiade: sportieve kortfilms' bij KASKCinema, Film-Plateau.
Today, the rise of generative AI (GenAI) is creating considerable uncertainty: which information is reliable? How was information created? What is real and what is not? What has been generated by humans, and what by artificial intelligence (AI)? As a university library, we aim through the Glashelder project to explore how we can address these questions in relation to the description of (image) collections. The addition of AI attribution labels may help to provide greater transparency in this regard.
On 12 September 2021, during Open Monumentendag, the public was able to step inside the restored Boekentoren for the first time in years. Five years on, this marks a fitting moment to reflect on the story of the University Library.
De Boekentoren en podcast Buck FM brengen samen de Gentse geschiedenis tot leven. Ontdek verhalen uit de erfgoedcollectie in 5 minidocumentaires.
From September 8 to 11, 2026, the vibrant city of Ghent will host the 31st biennial IIC Conference 2026 of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC).
To extend the project for an additional two years (2027–2028), the Glashelder team worked hard in early 2026 on the supplementary grant application to the Flemish government, in which we addressed previous feedback and concerns. This effort clearly paid off, as the continued funding has been approved by the Flemish government.
On loan - The exhibition 'Truth? Art of Doubt', from April 24, 2026 to January 3, 2027 at Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, explores what truth is in times of disinformation and AI.
On loan - The opening exhibition ‘Bigger picture’ at BRUSK explores how medieval Bruges, as a global city, connected with international networks of trade, culture, and politics, made tangible by the exceptional loan of the masterpiece Liber Floridus from the Boekentoren.
On Loan - In the exhibition BORDERS at the GUM & Botantuin, artists and scientists explore the meaning and change of boundaries, illustrated with newly created work and with a loan from the Boekentoren collection.
On Loan - The exhibition 'In de schaduw van de fles' can be visited until January 3, 2027!
Leonard Cohen in Ghent: Exhibition and conference (Oct 6-8, 2026) Discover unique, never-before-seen archival materials by Leonard Cohen in the Ghent Book Tower (entrance Rozier 3). This exclusive exhibition accompanies the international scientific conference on his multidisciplinary oeuvre. Additionally, enjoy a cultural evening with live music and a themed dinner at the Handelsbeurs, or join the UGent reading group.
This Ceremoniale is rare. The Ceremoniale holds special value for the collective memory, as it provides insight into the liturgical practices of one of the most important Ghent (even Flemish) abbeys, particularly St. Peter's Abbey, which was abolished during the French Revolution. Furthermore, the Ceremoniale serves an important linking function, as it is related to the missal of St. Peter's Abbey and is thus a clear example of external influences on Ghent miniature production. Finally, the Ceremoniale possesses special artistic value, as the artists who contributed to it were of a high artistic standard. restoration training
Discover three interactive heritage pieces. Because you are not allowed to touch these fragile objects, we bring them to life digitally in these short videos. Watch the hidden messages, interactive postcard, and historical satire in motion!
On loan - In 1986, S.M.A.K. organized an exhibition of contemporary art in private homes in Ghent: Chambres d’Amis. Forty years later, the museum looks back on this special project.
On loan - Pain management is timeless. Synthetic medicines ushered in a new era around 1900. This exhibition at the Industrial Museum presents diverse perspectives on the subject.
Info bij de verschillende planten die werden uitgedeeld bij Caring, het derde deel van het drieluik Lost & Found: Caring for What Is (about to disappear), georganiseerd door de Boekentoren.
Samenwerking binnen UGent brengt zware metalen zoals arseen en lood in erfgoedcollecties in kaart via niet-destructieve XRF-analyse.
Discover ‘Operation Parrot’ at the Boekentoren: a theatre concert blending music and history.
Ontdek de Digitale Erfgoedbib met handschriften, oude drukken en erfgoedparels uit de collectie van de Boekentoren.
An afternoon of stories and discoveries at the students’ symposium ‘Uit de schaduw, in het Licht’. Immerse yourself in the Boekentoren’s Special Collections as students talk about their research into items of the heritiage collection. Join us on Wednesday 29 April 2026 at the Belvedère. The presentations will be followed by an exhibition of these items in the Workspace for Special Collections.
On 26 April 2026, the Boekentoren is organising a day full of activities centred on its collection and the theme of humour.
Currently on display in the collection presentation: Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers
Currently on display in the collection presentation: the incunabulum of the 'Consolation of Philosophy' by Boëthius.
The new permanent exhibition in the Boekentoren offers a unique insight into the history, workings and vast collections of the University Library. Through a display featuring visual flipbooks, a scale model and heritage artefacts in the display cases, you can discover the story behind this iconic building, as well as the library’s operations and heritage..
Bruikleen - Voetbal doet harten sneller slaan, maakt mensen tot helden en rivalen, smeedt nieuwe families, brengt de stad in vervoering. In Gent al zo'n 150 jaar. De doe-expo 'Buitenspel - Voetbal in de stad' neemt je mee in die geschiedenis.
This book talk on the 25th of Februari explores the complex journey of the Belgian Friendship Building from its origins at the 1939 New York World’s Fair to its eventual home at Virginia Union University, an HBCU in Richmond. The discussion bridges the gap between the structure's colonialist beginnings and its significance in African American history, offering a multifaceted look at modern architecture, heritage, and restoration.
Expo Found: programma
The donated photo archive of photographer Michiel Hendryckx, including physical and future digital collections, is preserved by the Book Tower and systematically made available online under an open licence (CC-BY-SA) for research purposes.
Vier 'Taadscapsuules' met Gents dialect gaan tijdens de Week van het Gents voor tien jaar vier verschillende Gentse archieven in.
In februari 2026 opent de expo Found, gecureerd door Tine Hens. De expo brengt hedendaagse kunst samen met zorgvuldig geselecteerde stukken uit de bibliotheekcollectie.
On Sunday 30 November, Lost inaugurates the triptych Lost and Found – Caring for What Is (about to Disappear) with a ritual procession from De Krook to the Boekentoren, followed by a contemplative performance within the study landscape.
Robbrecht and Daem Architects entrust their archive to Ghent’s iconic Boekentoren.
Glashelder is een onderzoeksproject dat kunstmatige intelligentie (AI) gebruikt om 61.000 gedigitaliseerde glasplaten te beschrijven en te ontsluiten voor het publiek. Het project onderzoekt hoe AI-technieken effectief kunnen worden ingezet in een erfgoedcontext, waarbij de samenwerking tussen mens en machine centraal staat.
Recently, hetarchief.be has made newspapers available online, including the Gazette van Gent and the war newspapers from the Boekentoren. Digitisation and smart text recognition make the newspapers fully searchable. This makes them an indispensable source for research and education, and preserves the newspapers for the future.
On loan - From 20 June 2025 you can visit Huis van Alijn in Ghent for an exhibition entitled ‘FOORWONDER’. This expo about fairs also include several loans from the Boekentoren.
This documentary tells the story of the archive (1960-1990) of the laboratory of human movement decomposition. In 2024, the Boekentoren collection was enriched with some 900 16mm films and the accompanying theses from the Institute of Physical Education of Ghent University. The archive offers a unique insight into the scientific study of sport in Ghent.
Heritage Day took place at 2025 on Sunday 27 April. This year the theme was sports and games. We made a selection from our various heritage collections documenting Ghent's diverse sports history. You can find a reference of the presented collection here.
On Loan - This exhibition aims to highlight the traditions and festivals that united Belgium and northern France in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Bruikleen - De Boekentoren leende uniek archiefmateriaal uit voor de tentoonstelling Salonkoorts - Driejaarlijkse Kunsttentoonstellingen te Brussel, Antwerpen en Gent (1814-1914).
Loan - The Huygens Museum in Voorburg, together with Ghent University, presents a new exhibition on the history of Dutch court poetry.
The most famous masterpiece in the collection is the Liber Floridus.
On 27 April, the Boekentoren partakes in Heritage Day and is inviting you to a day of activities around the Higher Institute of Physical Education's special collection and the Book Tower's heritage collection.
Bruikleen - Het werk van Cami en Sasha Stone is verspreid over verschillende internationale collecties en weerspiegelt een leven dat hen via de Verenigde Staten en Parijs van Berlijn naar Brussel voerde. Ondanks het belang van de activiteiten van hun studio in het interbellum blijft hun oeuvre toch grotendeels onbekend.
Every year, the Boekentoren gives many objects on loan to museums in Belgium and far beyond. This brings works that are otherwise kept in the depot to the attention of the public. You can find an overview of our long-term loans here.
Seven manuscripts of the Boekentoren have recently been recognized as Flemish masterpieces. These precious, illuminated manuscripts are invaluable to the Flemish cultural heritage. With this new recognition, the Book Tower now has a total of 59 recognized masterpieces.
Bruikleen - Eeuwenlang vormden gigantische poorten de toegang tot de stad. Nu zijn ze verdwenen en vind je op die plaatsen dynamische en kleurrijke stadswijken. Deze tentoonstelling in het STAM laat je zien wat er de voorbije twee eeuwen gebeurde.
Loan Boekentoren - On November 14th, not coincidentally the date of birth of Leo Baekeland, a new exhibition on the plastics industry will open in the Industrial Museum. Some items from the ephemera collection of the Book Tower will also be on display.
World Digital Preservation Day serves to highlight the importance of digital preservation. As a university library, we are strongly committed to digital preservation.
On loan - The expo ‘Wunderkammer of Truth’ opens a dialogue on the theme of 'truth'.
Due to the renovation of the Aula, there is a need to house a collection of busts, which now find a temporary home in the Boekentoren.
Het Facilitair Bedrijf (Digitaal Archief Vlaanderen), meemoo, Vlaams instituut voor het archief and VRT, together with UGent, will be organizing iPRES, the major international conference on digital preservation in 2024.
On Sunday 21 April, it was time for Heritage Day, this time dedicated to 'Home'. But what makes a place a (real) home?
O1 December 2023 marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Virginie Loveling (1936-1923), one of Flanders' greatest writers, at the age of 87. The perfect moment to showcase one of our masterpieces: her war diary.
Virginie Loveling was 78 when World War I broke out. From day one, she kept a diary as a curious, opinionated witness. After her death, the manuscript, along with other ego documents, was deposited in the Ghent University Library. The war diary was recognised as a Flemish Masterpiece and is one of the 52 masterpieces in our heritage collection.
Virginie Loveling's 1914-1918 war diary was digitised in 2023. The complex composition of the manuscript consisting of different types of leaves, bookmarks, wrappers, newspaper articles, fold-out pieces of text... eventually led to 4,000 images that can now be studied and used for inspiration.
Donation of 22 letters from Henry van de Velde to Leon Deprez
Tom Waes, together with historians, archeologists and other experts takes us back to our past in the documentary 'Het verhaal van Vlaanderen'. Episode three focuses on the dark Middle Ages and brings one of the masterpieces of our collection into the spotlight.
With the launch of mmmonk.be, a digital platform, we provide access to 820 Medieval manuscripts from the abbey of Sint-Baafs, Sint-Pieters (Ghent), Ten Duinen (Koksijde) and Ter Doest (Lissewege).
The Boekentoren chose to participate in an unique project: the digitization of more than 170.000 glass plates, safeguarded at different heritage organisations in Flanders.
The tower is being filled again.
Boekentoren shortlisted for Ghent Architecture Prize 2021
Torens van boeken