Afkikker

Afkikker

  • Address : Sint-Kwintensberg 52, 9000 Gand, Belgique

 Afkikker is located close to the booktower of UGent, next to the Blandijnberg and thus close to Sint-Pietersplein. Once the house would have been a refuge for the monks in the Middle Ages, but we have not yet uncovered the underground passage.

The house was called Hooghuys in the 13th century, and was one of 4 stone buildings in Sint-Pietersdorp. The pillar in the cellar is the same as those in the basement of the town house of Ghent. Hooghuys means also city hall. Afkikker could have been the city hall of Sint-Pietersdorp but a real prove historians didn’t find yet.

We have found various shards and bones that indicate the presence of a farm. The house has a well of 30 m deep and was therefore self-reliant, which was also necessary. It was property of high society. The first owners are not known, we got the names of the owners from 1500.

When I opened Afkikker in the 80s, it was a real surprise for both the City of Ghent and the University as they forgot about that house. An exposition came only afterwards.

Anyhow, Afkikker attracted students, professors and artists. We regularly organized concerts, expositions, lectures. Students organized dance parties in the cellar, we called the Shelter.

Now café is only open on Thursdays with possibility of free podium.


Additional info