Aalst is in East Flanders, Belgium. A medium-sized town by Belgian standards, with a population of around 77,000 people. Aalst is between the larger city of Ghent (Gent) and the capital, Brussels.
Aalst’s yearly carnival is a living laboratory of Belgian satire; the humour is deliberately coarse, reflecting the city's historic role as a trading hub where dockworkers and merchants rubbed shoulders. For visitors, the real insight lies in the neighbourhood cafés where locals rehearse jokes in the local dialect, known as “Aalster”. Sitting with a glass of lokal bruin, you’ll hear stories about how the carnival’s “Voil Jotta” float tradition evolved from a 19th‑century guild competition. Engaging with these informal sessions offers a nuanced perspective on how communal identity is performed and preserved, far beyond the televised spectacles.
While the city’s industrial past is hinted at in its skyline, the subtle remnants of the once‑thriving linen trade are best explored on foot. The former mill alley, now a pedestrian corridor, still bears the original brickwork and sluice gates that powered the cloth‑washing basins. Pop‑in to the small museum tucked behind a modern office block; it houses a collection of hand‑loom samples that illustrate the shift from domestic weaving to mechanised production in the early 20th century. Comparing these textures with the sleek design of today’s boutiques illustrates how Aalst has re‑fashioned its heritage into contemporary creative spaces.
Beyond the well‑known Belgian staples, Aalst serves a modest dish called “stoofvlees met friet” that is simmered in a dark, locally brewed dubbel, giving the meat a caramel‑rich depth not replicated elsewhere. The best place to try it is a family‑run bistro in the old market square, where the chef still sources the beef from a nearby farm that supplies the city’s bi‑annual livestock fair. Pair it with a glass of Gouden Rit, a regional wheat beer whose subtly spiced finish balances the stew’s richness. This combination showcases how the city’s culinary scene remains tightly linked to its surrounding agricultural rhythms.
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