The Design Museum Gent holds an international collection of decorative arts and design spanning from the 17th century to the present. The Art Nouveau room is extraordinary — a complete period interior by Henri van de Velde, one of the pioneers of the movement. The contemporary wing shows how design has evolved since the 1980s and includes rotating temporary exhibitions.
The museum building is itself a converted 18th-century mansion, and the contrast between the historic rooms and the modern extension is handled well. It sits just off the Graslei, making it an easy addition to a walk through the medieval core.