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Private guided tour in the “Millionaires’ Quarter ”and visit to Villa De Bondt
100 Years of the Subdivision Plan for the Millionaires’ Quarter (1926–2026)
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1926 Subdivision Plan, Villa De Bondt warmly invites you to an exclusive guided walk through Ghent’s Millionaires’ Quarter, concluded with a festive visit and VIP reception at Villa De Bondt.
Exactly 100 years have passed since the subdivision plan for the Millionaires’ Quarter was introduced. To this day, the neighbourhood has remained virtually unchanged, and many of its remarkable houses have recently been carefully restored and given a new life. This unique occasion allows you to experience this exceptional heritage up close.
Ghent’s Millionaires’ Quarter is an extraordinary and remarkably consistent architectural ensemble from the Interwar period. Between 1926 and 1940, no fewer than 126 architects worked here for 250 clients. Despite the wide diversity of styles—ranging from sleek modernism and flamboyant Art Deco to playful Neo-Rococo—the neighbourhood forms a surprisingly harmonious whole.
This is thanks to progressive urban planning with strict regulations, ensuring that even the most diverse designs came together as a coherent ensemble. The most renowned Ghent architects of the time and their affluent clients competed to create the most refined designs. The result is a unique showcase of architecture from the period between the two World Wars. In the 1930s, the Millionaires’ Quarter was the place to gather inspiration, even before choosing an architect.
During this walk, you will relive that exploratory journey under the expert guidance of Erlend Hamerlijnck, architect and writer.
As a perfect finale, you will enjoy an exclusive visit to Villa De Bondt, the masterpiece architect Jan-Albert De Bondt designed for himself in 1930. In this villa, the expressive brick ornamentation of the Amsterdam School merges with the cubist volumes and the crisp horizontal and vertical accents inspired by Willem Marinus Dudok. The result is a rare synthesis that powerfully embodies the innovative spirit of the Interwar period.
Thanks to patrons Wim & Miek Vandekerckhove, the interior has recently undergone meticulous restoration and is now considered the best-preserved interior of the Millionaires’ Quarter.
Practical Information
Guided Walk:
Through the Millionaires’ Quarter, led by Erlend Hamerlinck, architect and writer
Conclusion:
Visit and VIP reception at Villa De Bondt, hosted by Wim and Miek Vandekerckhove
Price:
€20 per person (minimum 15 participants)
€25 per person including a drink (minimum 15 participants)
Duration:
2 hours
Reservation:
info@villadebondt.be
0477 34 51 15
09 221 76 09
