Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The exhibition “100 Years of Ukrainians in Ghent” opens today, May 24, 2025, at Sint-Salvatorkerk, showcasing the community’s history, culture, and stories of around 3,000–4,000 Ukrainians living in Ghent.
As VRT News reported, the exhibition “100 Years of Ukrainians in Ghent” starts today, May 24, 2025, at the Sint-Salvatorkerk on Sleepstraat, showing the story of the Ukrainian community in the city for a century. People can see it until December 31, 2025.
The exhibition includes religious items, personal stories, and old belongings, showing how Ukrainians have lived, joined Belgian society, and shared their culture. They mentioned that it highlights their journey and how they’ve interacted with others in Ghent.
What does 100 Years of Ukrainians in Ghent reveal about their community and heritage?
According to officials, an important part of the “100 Years of Ukrainians in Ghent” exhibit looks at the time after World War II. About 3,000 to 4,000 Ukrainians live in Ghent now. Some have lived there for a long time, and others came recently because of the fighting in Ukraine, especially after 2014 and 2022.
Ukrainians and people from Ghent have different relationships. Some Ukrainians are close friends with locals, while others stay mostly within their community, keeping their culture strong.
Taisia Nakonechna, a well-known Ukrainian, came to Ghent 6 years ago and learned Dutch to show respect. She helps Ukrainians and locals understand each other better, helping with language and culture. She says it’s important for newcomers to get involved with the wider community.
Ghent is working to help Ukrainians who have moved there. The city has events and projects to help Ukrainians and local people get to know each other better. Officials mentioned that a big issue right now is that the emergency shelter in Oostakker will close later this year. Taisia Nakonechna believes this will go well because the city is helping people find new places to live.
According to officials, the exhibition begins in the early 1920s when the National Ukrainian Choir performed in Ghent, marking the start of Ukrainians in the city. Over the years, a close community formed around the Sint-Salvatorkerk, which became a place for religion, culture, and social gatherings.
Many Ukrainians, after living in camps, came to Belgium to work in coal mines. Belgium needed workers, so they brought in Ukrainians to work in the mines in Limburg and Wallonia. They mentioned that this work was hard and dangerous, but it gave them a chance to build a new life.
Many of these miners and their families moved to cities like Ghent, where they helped create the Ukrainian community. Officials mentioned that the exhibit shows their belongings, tools, photos, letters, and stories, showing their tough work and their strong will.
