Wildlife and Animals Near Ghent
Search for a Ghent zoo and you’ll find plenty of pages describing one. Ghent does not have a municipal zoo or a marine park; travelers looking for that kind of large-scale zoological exhibit go to Antwerp Zoo or Pairi Daiza instead, both outside the city.
Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen Nature Reserve
What Ghent actually has is a genuine 220-hectare protected wetland and meadow reserve about 3km west of the center, with quiet boardwalks and bird hides overlooking the marshland. In winter, thousands of overwintering wigeons, northern shovelers, teal, and marsh harriers pass through, and it’s a legitimate destination for anyone with binoculars rather than a consolation stop. Go early morning or late afternoon for the best bird activity, and bring your own binoculars; there’s no equipment rental on site, and the reserve itself charges no entry fee.
Kinderboerderij De Campagne
In Drongen, a district on Ghent’s western edge, this municipal educational farm lets children meet Flemish giant rabbits, sheep, goats, and draft horses in a working pastoral setting rather than a petting-zoo enclosure built for tourists. It’s aimed squarely at families with young children rather than adults looking for a wildlife encounter, and it works best as a half-day add-on to a Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen visit, since the two sites sit on the same side of the city.
What isn’t here
Be skeptical of any Ghent page listing a “Ghent Zoo,” a menagerie attached to a city museum, or a private animal park inside city limits: none of that exists inside Ghent proper, and a page describing one is either confusing Ghent with another Belgian city or inventing an attraction outright. If a specific animal venue isn’t backed by an official municipal or nature-reserve source, treat the listing as unverified rather than book a special trip around it.
Getting there without a car
Both the reserve and the farm sit outside the pedestrianized core, so plan on a bike or a short De Lijn bus ride rather than walking from downtown; Ghent’s low-emission zone inside the R40 ring also means a rental car is more hassle than it’s worth for a single afternoon trip to either site. A De Lijn day ticket covers both legs of the trip for about €9, cheaper than parking anywhere near either site even if you did drive in.
Verdict: go to Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen for a real, unhurried nature outing, and take children to De Campagne rather than searching for a zoo that isn’t there. For the built landmarks and museums that fill out the rest of a Ghent itinerary, see the attraction tours guide .