All stands were offered for one year, the Gentse Feesten 2022 edition. In this way, the design and organization of the clusters with reusable tableware and take-back system can be properly evaluated. The city council lowered the set price of the clusters as a compensation for the extra efforts to set up exchange points for the reusable catering material.

Ghent Festivities

Ghent has been a real party city since time immemorial. As the capital of the County of Flanders and seat of the diocese, Ghent had a rich tradition of official celebrations such as royal investitures and ecclesiastical celebrations such as processions or episcopal celebrations.

In the mid-19th century, Ghent was also a thriving port and industrial city. The corresponding ranks of merchants and entrepreneurs from the upper middle class were united in various associations. They also had their own parties. One of those associations was the Union, a “sociéte bourgeoise” with its seat on the Kouter.

They launched the idea of ​​organizing a “general fair” or centrally organized “Municipality Parties”. These had to contribute to the appearance of the city. Conveniently, general festivities could replace the existing parish fair and neighborhood festivities. In the eyes of the Union, these enjoyed too little charisma and drove the workers from the factories towards the cafes.

In their view, there were simply too many fairs and neighborhood parties. On average, from July to October there were 2 community fairs per month and a number of parish parties. This meant that some of the working people were partying somewhere for almost 8 weeks.