S.M.A.K. is the sort of focused museum stop that can make Ghent feel less like a checklist and more like a place with its own memory. It is not just filler between bigger sights: the collection, building, or subject matter gives travellers a sharper angle on local culture, art, science, or history.
Work it into the day when you want an indoor pause with substance. Check current hours before going, especially outside the main season, and allow enough time to read the labels rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.