Wedding Car Hire in Oost-Vlaanderen (Belgium)

Wedding venues in Oost-Vlaanderen: Gent, the Leiestreek and the Vlaamse Ardennen

Oost-Vlaanderen has it all within an hour's drive: a historic city, a river landscape dotted with castles and a hilly region in the south. In Gent, the Graslei and Korenlei, the Gravensteen and the towers of Sint-Baafs, the Belfort and the Sint-Niklaaskerk are well-known backdrops for wedding photos. Gent's town hall, with its striking Gothic façade, sits in the middle of that historic centre. You will find more tips for the city on the page about hiring a wedding car in Gent.

Along the Leie, around Deinze and Sint-Martens-Latem, you will find villas, castles and reception venues on the water. The Kasteel van Ooidonk and the Kasteel van Laarne are well-known moated castles in the province. In the south, the Vlaamse Ardennen begin around Oudenaarde and Geraardsbergen, with hills, sunken lanes and cobbled stretches that cycling fans will recognise. In the north lie the Waasland and the Meetjesland, flatter areas with polders, creeks and large farms.

Cobbles, castles and choosing your wedding car

Which car suits you best depends on the route. A short drive through the centre of Gent makes different demands from a trip over the hills of the Vlaamse Ardennen or along the Leie to a castle.

Comfort on old roads

A drive through the Vlaamse Ardennen or over the cobbles of a village square is beautiful, but not every car is equally pleasant on them. Low sports cars such as a Ferrari 488 or Audi R8 have little ground clearance and a stiff suspension. A classic saloon such as the Mercedes-Benz W123 or a Volvo Amazon rides more smoothly, has four doors and leaves the dress less creased. The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud is also built for comfort.

Open-top along the Leie

Along the Leie and through the Meetjesland the roads are flat and quiet, ideal for a convertible. A Mustang convertible from the sixties, a Porsche 356 Speedster or a modern Porsche 718 turns the drive to the reception into part of the day. If you would like to see more options, take a look at classic wedding cars, which also include closed models for a rainy day.

Getting to Gent and planning the day

The historic centre of Gent is largely car-free thanks to the traffic circulation plan, and the city also has a low-emission zone. Ask the rental company in advance which route to the town hall or the church is possible and whether the car is allowed to drive up to it. Often a drop-off point on the edge of the centre works best, with a short walk as an extra photo moment.

Outside Gent planning is simpler, but the E40 and the R4 around Gent can be busy on a Friday. With a classic car, allow for a relaxed pace and leave some leeway between the ceremony and the reception. Rental companies that drive in Oost-Vlaanderen sometimes come from West-Vlaanderen, Antwerpen or the Netherlands. So ask about the travel time to you and agree where the car will wait during the ceremony or the dinner.