Het ‘Waterhuis aan de Bierkant’ is one of Ghent's traditional historic pubs. Its location right next to the river Leie makes it very popular.

Date: 2011 & 2025
Info: Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant is one of Ghent’s most recognizable cafés. With its large beer selection and sunny terrace along the water, it attracts locals and visitors from all over the world. But this is more than just a place to have a drink—it’s a building with a long and surprising history.

The buidling dates back to 1726. It was originally built as a public water supply during times of plague, when clean drinking water was essential for the city. Over the centuries, the building changed its role many times. It became a brothel, later a barber shop, and eventually a pub. Each new function added another layer to its story.

*2025. Luckily, the lettering remained untouched*

The name Waterhuis aan de Bierkant means “The Water House on the beer side.” It often causes confusion, but no—it’s not a mistake. The unusual name reflects an old way of describing places in Ghent and reminds us how closely the city’s language is tied to its geography and history.

In the 1970s, the café was known as Het Poortershof, a traditional pub loved by artists and creatives. By the 1980s, it had already built a strong reputation for its wide selection of beers—long before beer culture became a global trend.

In recent years, the neighboring restaurant Chez Léontine was absorbed into the café. The wall between the two spaces was removed, making the pub almost twice as large. As the interior changed, so did parts of the building’s visual identity.

In 2020, Het Waterhuis received a new façade (picture below). While fresh and modern, it also lost something important: the lower lettering beneath the sign was removed, leaving only the word Bierhuis. For lovers of typography and lettering, this matters. Historic signs are not just labels—they are visual traces of time, culture, and craft.

Address: Groentenmarkt 9