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#thestoryofFlanders

Tom Waes, together with historians, archeologists and other experts takes us back to our past in the documentary 'Het verhaal van Vlaanderen'. Episode three focuses on the dark Middle Ages and brings one of the masterpieces of our collection into the spotlight.

The rise of christianity and the christening of Flanders is illustrated by a famous medieval manuscript, the Vita Sancti Amandi. The text, written in Latin, dates back to the beginning of the 8th century and is attributed to a monk from the north of France, Baudemundus. He tells the story of Saint Amandus, apostle of Flanders. At the request of the Frankish king, Amandus traveled to Ghent, to preach among the pagans. With little succes at first, but after performing a miracle, Amandus succeeded in winning the confidence of the locals. He founded a number of churches and monasteries along the Schelde, a few who later became known as the Sint-Pieters and Sint-Baafsabdij.


Vita Sancti Amandi © Stad Gent

The Booktower collection holds a version of the life of Amandus from the 9th century. Handschrift 224 is a unique piece, one of the oldest books in Flanders. The manuscript was kept at the Sint-Pieters abdij since the 12th century, but found at the port of Amsterdam in the suitcases of Nicolas Marie Songis des Courbons (1761-1810), a Frenchmen who returns to Paris after the French Revolution. Confiscated, the manuscript returns to Ghent, and makes it way to the newly founded Bibliothèque Publique.

This piece belongs to the Mmmonk collectie, a project that unites 820 Medieval manuscripts from the abbey of Sint-Baafs, Sint-Pieters (Ghent), Ten Duinen (Koksijde) and Ter Doest (Lissewege).

De Wevel, Gillis. Life of St.-Amandus. Tondalus' Vision. Glossenlied Op Het Ave Maria.

The Boekentoren holds more than six thousand manuscripts, from precious illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages to single-edition typescripts from the twentieth century. Almost two thousand manuscripts can be consulted online.

Explore the Heritage Collections

The Boekentoren manages one of the largest heritage collections in the Low Countries.

Manuscripts

The Boekentoren holds more than six thousand manuscripts, from precious illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages to single-edition typescripts from the twentieth century. Almost two thousand manuscripts can be consulted online.

Newspapers and magazines

Besides countless iconic periodicals, the heritage collection contains a wealth of material - from the oldest Dutch newspapers to student almanacs, colonial press and front pages.

Gandavensia

The 'Section Gantoise' was established in 1872. It is an active collection containing pieces related to Ghent: the Gandavensia. Manuscripts, prints, iconographic pieces and complete private collections constitute the paper memory of the city.

Prints

'Prints' includes the collection items that were published by means of the printing press. We make a distinction between 'old' editions and 'modern' editions (after 1830). The Boekentoren houses 701 incunabula and more than two million modern editions.

Gallery

The Gallery contains all collection profiles with museum appeal. These are pieces with iconographic value such prints, photographs, drawings, paintings, plans, posters, porcelain cards, numismatic items and maps.

Ephemera

Ephemera, papers, pièces volantes. Collected intensively by head librarian Ferdinand vander Haeghen, the Ghent collection of loose-leaf pages forms an impressive, alphabetically arranged collection of miscellanea that document everyday life in times past like no other.

Archives

Since its foundation in 1797, the university library has attracted numerous archival donations because of its cultural role in city life. As a result, the Boekentoren has amassed hundreds of archives of artists, professors and cultural associations.