The first trams ran in Ghent on 24th May 1874 when a horse tram ran between Ghent-Zuid and the Dampoort. The horse tram network was on standard gauge as was the battery operated trams which started to be introduced from 1899. These experiments were short-lived and a decision was made to electrify the whole system in 1904, and at this point in time it was also regauged to become the metre gauge network it is today.

During the 1960s parts of the network started to close as it reduced from 11 routes in 1961 to four in 1974. But expansion came again in the 1990s and today the network is approximately 19 miles long and sine 1991 has been operated by De Lijn. The majority of services now are operated by modern vehicles with fleets of HermeLijn and Flexity2 trams in use.

To help celebrate the 150th anniversary of trams in the city, a special weekend of celebrations took place in Ghent City Centre - this included a Parade of trams on Sunday 19th May whilst there was also the chance to ride on a horse tram as well as many other historic trams which no longer run on a day to day basis.

* A video of the events by Bob Hodges Transport DVDs is on YouTube here with a second video available here.