Public events

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April 27 - May 16, 2025
Amsab-ISG - Ghent

Back to Start? takes you playfully through a hundred years of leisure history. To mark Heritage Day —themed " Game on! "—  we delved into our collection to find historical images and authentic games that demonstrate how leisure time—and the way we think about it—has changed over the years.

Expo Back to start?

Until the early 20th century, play and recreation were primarily the preserve of the elite. But with the introduction of compulsory schooling, Sunday rest, the eight-hour workday, paid holidays, and growing prosperity, this slowly changed. Each step in the social struggle made leisure time increasingly accessible to a greater number of people. 

Today, we face new challenges. Work-life balance is under pressure in the digital age, while both young and old are expected to work increasingly flexible and longer hours. Free time is once again under threat. 

In the exhibition "Back to Home?", you'll discover how play and relaxation have enriched the social lives of ordinary people throughout time. You'll get an overview of a hundred years of leisure activities, but you can also join in the fun yourself. Hop through the exhibition, delve into the heritage of winning and losing, and test your luck and skill with authentic games from the Amsab collection.

Our heritage offers not only relaxation, but also food for thought. Will we continue to build a world in which rest and leisure are a right for everyone? Or will we go back to the beginning?

Back to the beginning?


April 27 - May 16, 2025 Amsab-ISG, Bagattenstraat 174, 9000 Ghent
Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free admission - No reservations required

An exhibition on the occasion of Heritage Day 2025