Castle of the Counts hosts Perseverance until 11 October

The Castle of the Counts hosts the inflatable artwork Perseverance (Goddess of Democracy) in Ghent until 11 October 2026. The installation is an outdoor stop in Design Museum Gent's Design and Democracy programme, linking the medieval fortress to an exhibition about democracy.

Perseverance remains at the castle until 11 October

The work is presented at the Castle of the Counts from 3 October to 11 October 2026. The organiser describes it as a nine-metre-high inflatable statue, while the museum's programme identifies the work as Perseverance (Goddess of Democracy).

The museum programme for Democracy Workout places one stop at the castle. The programme connects the artwork with the idea that democratic cooperation weakens when people stop working together, while the installation itself is displayed outside the museum.

VRT NWS reported that the work belongs to a two-part artistic presentation created for the reopening of the renovated Design Museum. Its report states that the installations remain at their locations until 11 October 2026 and identifies the statue as the work of the art collective zweintopf.

The medieval fortress gives the artwork a historic setting

The Castle of the Counts is a medieval fortress in Ghent's city centre. Its visitor route includes narrow tower stairs, high rooms, corridors and battlements, according to the site of its custodian, Historische Huizen Gent.

That setting gives the outdoor artwork a clear physical context: visitors encounter a contemporary inflatable statue beside a fortress built around defensive architecture. The contrast is part of the practical experience of the Design and Democracy programme, which places two stops outside the museum and continues indoors at Design Museum Gent.

The custodian's description of the fortress confirms the building's medieval character and its combination of stairs, high rooms and battlements. These features remain relevant for anyone combining the temporary installation with a visit inside the castle.

Design and Democracy connects museum and castle

The exhibition places the castle stop within a wider programme that began on 3 October 2026. The museum describes the outdoor statue as one element of a route whose other activities take place inside Design Museum Gent.

For visitors, the arrangement creates two different settings in one city-centre itinerary. The castle provides the historic surroundings for Perseverance, while the museum supplies the indoor exhibition context and the programme's exercises about listening, compromise and conflict.

Visiting Castle of the Counts: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Perseverance installation is at the Castle of the Counts in Ghent until 11 October 2026, within the Design and Democracy programme running from 3 October to 11 October 2026.
• The installation is an outdoor stop beside the castle. The programme also includes indoor elements at Design Museum Gent, so the statue and the museum exhibition are separate parts of the visit.
• The fortress stands in Ghent city centre at Sint-Veerleplein 11. The custodian lists the address as 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
• The historic route includes narrow tower stairs, high rooms, corridors and battlements. Those features may affect access for visitors who need step-free routes.
• Ghent is in Belgium, where Dutch, French and German are official languages and the currency is the euro.

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Frequently asked questions about Castle of the Counts

When does Perseverance take place at Castle of the Counts?

The inflatable artwork is displayed at the castle from 3 October to 11 October 2026 as part of Design and Democracy.

What is Castle of the Counts?

It is a medieval fortress in Ghent city centre with corridors, narrow tower stairs, high rooms and battlements.

Where is Castle of the Counts and how do you get there?

The fortress is at Sint-Veerleplein 11 in Ghent, Belgium, in the city centre.