A Wonderful Walking Tour of Ghent

On Saturday 9 September, RSC Belgium members and friends took part in a wonderful walking tour in the late summer sunshine around the Belgian city of Ghent. Our guide, Dr Paul Snell, helped illuminate the history and scientific and industrial heritage of the city often described as the 'Venice of the North'. And we also visited the relocated RSC Chemical Landmark for August Kekulé.

Our tour group met up at 10am for coffee and an introductory briefing from Paul at the Limerick Bookshop close to Ghent St Pieters station. Then it was 'all aboard' a tram to the centre of Ghent.

Our first port of call was to visit the Kekule Landmark that was presented to Ghent University by then RSC President David Phillips in November 2011. The landmark recognises Kekule's pioneering work on structural and organic aromatic chemistry whilst at Ghent and was originally placed close to the site of his laboratory. The Landmark had been re-sited to be more accessible to the public during weekdays. At the weekend, however, the old town centre campus is not open to the public, but RSC Belgium member Prof. Bruno Linclau from Ghent University was able to get us access.

The photo above shows the plaque with, from left to right, Dr Denis Comeyne of the Royal Flemish Chemical Society (KVCV) and Chair of the KVCV/ Antwerp University Kekule Cycle seminar series, our section chair Prof Bob Crichton, and Prof. Bruno Linclau.

Of mustard and machines

Having viewed the plaque Paul then led us around the town centre pointing out buildings of interest and many aspects of the city's past and present glories including the famous Tierenteyn Mustard shop. Some of the party bought a pot of this revered Flemish condiment that has a heat point somewhere between French and English mustard.

Our tour eventually brought us to Ghent's Industrie Museum where we learned about an audacious piece of industrial espionage that helped build Ghent's economy in the Industrial Revolution. In 1801, Lieven Bauwens smuggled a spinning mule and steam engine out of the UK to help set up the textile industry in Flanders. At the time such a crime was punishable by death. Bauwens was later elected Mayor of Ghent. The spinning mule that was brought to Ghent is in the Industrial Museum, which also boasts a very fine view over central Ghent.

After the industry museum, the tour moved onto a leisurely lunch at Meme Gusta where home-cooked Flemish fare was on offer including a very fine Stoofvlees (Flemish meat stew) with, of course, frites.  

GUM

After a brief pit stop at one of Ghent's many excellent chocolatiers - Hilde Devolder - we boarded another tram to head for the new Ghent University Museum (GUM) situated in the Botanical Gardens in Citadel Park.

GUM displays an eclectic selection of items from all the University's departmental collections including Kekule's stick and ball models of benzene (see below). GUM is well worth a visit, as is the Botanical Gardens close by.

After a highly entertaining and informative day, our party took a farewell 'apero' in the early evening sunshine close to St Pieters station before heading on our various ways home.

Many thanks to Paul Snell for organising the itinerary - a great time was had by all!

RSC President presents Kekule landmark

RSC Belgium achieved another first on 28 October with the presentation of a RSC National Landmark plaque to Ghent University. The plaque commemorates the work of Prof. August Kekulé who worked at Ghent from 1858 to 1867.


The plaque was handed over at a ceremony in the University's magnificent Aula lecture theatre by RSC President Prof. David Phillips (pictured above centre). The landmark was recieved on behalf of the University by Prof. Luc Moens, vice rector of Ghent University (above left) and master of ceremonies was Prof. Pierre De Clercq of Ghent University (right).

During the ceremony an account of Kekulé's time at Ghent and its context in the history of chemistry was given by Dr. Brigitte Van Tiggelen, Chair of the Belgian National Centre for the History of Sciences.

This was followed by a contribution by Prof. Alexander Filippou from Bonn University on behalf of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the presentation of the plaque itself and a closing presentation by Prof. Pierre De Clercq on the actual siting of Kekulé's laboratory itself.

Many artefacts and pieces laboratory furniture, including original molecular models, Kekulé's chalkboard and lab benches, are displayed at Ghent University's Museum of Science.

Kekulé at Ghent
August Kekulé (1829 - 1896) was one of Europe's most prominent chemists during the second half of the 19th century and his work forms one of the principe foundations of the theory of chemical structure. From 1858 - 1867 Kekulé was professor of chemistry at Ghent University and whilst there he experienced his famous 'benzene dream' from which he deduced the structure of benzene and effectively initiated the development of organic aromatic chemistry, its industrial application and the modern world of plastics and polymers.


The wording of the landmark (above) highlights Kekulé's achievements at Ghent - arguably the best work of his long career. The laboratory that he created in the university marked the establishment of chemical sciences and industry in Belgium and inspired future generations of Belgian chemists. The building that housed Kekulé's original laboratory remains part of the University in the centre of Ghent and will be the final site of the landmark.

The International Year of Chemistry 2011 is an appropriate time to honour Kekulé as it also marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of his landmark text book on organic chemistry - 'Lehrbuch der Organische Chemie' - in 1861.

Ghent sites
A reception followed the ceremony. Earlier members of RSC Belgium and the speakers were given a guided tour of some sites in Ghent associated with Kekulé's time there.


Pictured above in front of the building where Kekulé's laboratory was believed to have been situated - possibly where the open window can be seen - are (above from left to right): Dr. Ian Carson, RSC Belgium Secretary; Prof. David Phillips, RSC President; Prof. Bob Crichton, RSC Belgium Chair; Prof. Alexander Filippou of Bonn University and GDCh; Prof. Pierre De Clercq of Ghent University; and Pauline Meakins of RSC HQ.