Best restaurants in Aalst 2026

Aalst is the second-largest city in East Flanders and the fifth largest in Flanders, with over 87,000 inhabitants. This thundering city on the river Dender is best known for its grandiose carnival, but is a must-see all year round.

Enjoy a cosy centre with plenty of historical sights and a distinctly popular character. Aalstenaars are also sometimes called ‘Ajuin’, a reference to the flourishing onion cultivation during the 19th century. It may be a spot name, but the people of Aalsten wear it with pride.

And rightly so: onions are at the base of many heart-warming dishes, which is exactly the adjective with which we would describe this city and its inhabitants.