Travel time: Year-round
Ghent is governed by a Cfb Marine West Coast climate, deeply influenced by its proximity to the North Sea and the warm Atlantic currents. This results in moderate temperatures year-round, characterized by mild summers and cool, but rarely freezing, winters. The defining feature of Ghent's weather is its unpredictability; the sky can shift from radiant sunshine to a drizzling grey in a matter of minutes, a phenomenon locals often refer to as "Belgian weather."
Spring in Ghent is a season of awakening and the driest part of the year. While temperatures transition from 10°C (50°F) in March to a pleasant 18°C (64°F) in May, the air remains crisp. April is statistically the month with the least precipitation, though the "April showers" are a real and frequent occurrence. The city begins to glow with longer daylight hours, reaching nearly 15 hours by late May.
Summers are comfortable rather than sweltering, with average highs around 22°C to 24°C (72°F–75°F). However, recent decades have seen a rise in short-lived but intense heatwaves, with record temperatures occasionally surpassing 35°C (95°F). Despite being the warmest season, August is often one of the wettest months due to heavy convective thunderstorms that break the heat.
Autumn sees a gradual descent into mist and dampness. September remains mild and is favored by locals for its "Indian Summer" potential, but by November, the atmosphere turns decidedly grey. Rainfall becomes more frequent and persistent, and the wind begins to pick up as Atlantic depressions move inland.
Winters are long and damp. Temperatures hover between 1°C and 6°C (34°F–43°F). True snowfall is rare and usually manifests as smossneeuw (slushy, melting snow). January is the windiest and darkest month, with the sun often shielded by a thick, low-hanging cloud deck. While deep freezes are less common now due to climate shifts, a biting northeasterly wind can occasionally bring sub-zero temperatures from Eastern Europe.
Ghent’s geography creates distinct microclimates. The city center, with its dense medieval stone architecture and winding canals, experiences a significant Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. During heatwaves, the city core can be up to 8°C (14°F) warmer at night than the surrounding rural Flanders countryside. Conversely, the areas near the Graslei and Korenlei canals feel cooler during the day due to evaporative cooling and the "canyon effect" of the buildings funneling breezes.
In Ghent, the weather is more about humidity and wind than raw temperature. A 10°C day can feel like 5°C if a damp wind is blowing off the Scheldt and Leie rivers. Locals are remarkably adapted to these conditions, moving seamlessly between the outdoors and the city's many cozy "brown cafes" (bruine kroegen).
One specific phenomenon is the "Zeevonk" (sea sparkle) or sea mist that can occasionally roll in from the coast, giving the city a ghostly, cinematic quality. Daylight also plays a major role in the local experience: the drastic contrast between the 16.5 hours of June sun and the sparse 8 hours of late December significantly dictates the pace of social life, shifting from outdoor terrace culture in summer to intimate, candlelit indoor gatherings in winter.