Ostend

Ostend is Belgium's main seaside resort, on the North Sea coast of West Flanders about 110 km northwest of Brussels. Direct intercity trains run roughly hourly from Brussels-Midi or Central to Oostende, taking about 1 hour 15 minutes for around €19 one way. The station sits beside the harbour and is a short walk from both the beach and the town centre, so the train is the simplest transport choice. The resort is built around a long sandy beach and a promenade, the Zeedijk, lined with hotels and apartment buildings. Key sights include the Mercator, a three-masted sailing ship moored as a museum, the Fort Napoleon from 1811, the Kursaal casino building, the Mu.ZEE art museum, and the East Pier, where visitors can walk out to the harbour entrance. The Fishermen's Wharf and the Vistrap fish market near the harbour supply the seafood restaurants nearby. A standard day starts with a morning walk along the Zeedijk and out on the pier, followed by a seafood lunch near the harbour, where mussels, shrimp croquettes and sole are typical dishes. The afternoon can be spent on the beach, in the Mu.ZEE museum, or by taking the coastal tram, which runs the length of the Belgian coast and connects to smaller resorts such as De Haan and Bredene. Arriving before 10:00 gives more beach space on busy days. The season runs from May to September, with swimming practical in July and August, though the water is cool. Outside summer, the town is quiet, and winter brings storms and bracing promenade walks. Visitors should bring a windbreaker even in warm months, since sea breezes are common. The budget for the day is around €50 to €90.