STAM offers the perfect introduction to Ghent, as it details the development of the city from its medieval beginnings to the cultured city we meet today. It’s housed in an eccentric space that flows from the 14th-century Bijloke Abbey through its neat knot of gardens and into a contemporary block of airy exhibition space with exterior walls made of glass, mirroring the historical progress of the city as it moves from medieval to modern. A chronological trail meanders through multimedia exhibits, images, archeological finds, artwork, and “listening benches” to bring Ghent’s rich history to life in a museum that’s stylishly curated and educational, yet also succeeds in being entertaining.