Ostend and the Flemish Coast

Ostend is the main city of the Belgian coast, in West Flanders in Belgium's Flemish Region, about 25 km northwest of Bruges. SNCB trains from Bruges reach Ostend railway station on Sir Winston Churchillkaai in about 15 minutes, and the train is the recommended mode, with frequent departures all day. The beach, promenade and harbour are within a short walk of the station. The Kursaal, a seafront casino and event building, anchors the promenade, and the long sandy beach is the main summer draw. The fish auction and the harbour area offer a working fishing port atmosphere, and the Mercator, a three-masted barque built in 1932 and now a museum ship, is moored in the Mercator marina. Nearby, the Fort Napoleon and the Atlantic Wall remnants add history, and the James Ensor House recalls the painter who lived in Ostend. Ostend also serves as a gateway to the coast through the Kusttram, which runs the length of the Belgian shore from De Panne to Knokke, with stops at resorts such as Blankenberge, Wenduine and De Haan. A day can begin with a walk along the beach and promenade in the morning, followed by a visit to the Mercator or the fish market. Lunch suits the seafood restaurants near the harbour, where shrimp croquettes, mussels and fish soup are common. The afternoon is for a Kusttram ride to a neighbouring resort, such as De Haan with its belle epoque villas, or for a stroll along the pier. The best season is June to September for beach weather, but the coast is attractive in winter for walks and sea air. Return tickets from Bruges cost about €4 to €6 each way, and a Kusttram day pass costs about €8 to €10. Evening trains back to Bruges are frequent, so the trip works well with a Bruges base.