48 hours in Ostend

A great breakfast is the ideal way to start the day. We begin day two at the iconic Café du Parc, the culinary brasserie of the eponymously named Art Deco hotel. Here you can enjoy classics from Flemish cuisine throughout the day. It recently got a bit of a facelift from Shannah Zeebroek, a proud member of the GOESTING collective of Flanders culinary ambassadors. We sit down to enjoy a lavish breakfast buffet in a charming setting with green marble tables, dark wooden panelling and benches upholstered in soft fabric. There's nothing like eating in style.

Today, we're hiring bicycles from Blue Bike at Ostend railway station to explore the green outskirts of the city. The Flanders' Finest Cycle Routes Green Ribbon Ostend is a flat journey of around 30 kilometres. Along the way, we pass an old bunker complex, a picturesque lighthouse and the impressive Fort Napoleon, which is now a modern, family-friendly museum. We cycle back towards the sea through beautiful polder landscapes. On the beach promenade, we're welcomed by Pillage of the Sea, a large, cairn-like sculpture that is one of the more than 40 artworks in the Beaufort Sculpture Park. This open-air museum consists of creations from previous editions of the Beaufort Triennial. This event visits the Flemish coast every three years and always leaves a lasting mark. The metres-high, orange-red Rock Strangers sculptures on the promenade are also part of the Beaufort Sculpture Park. Want to see more? The Flemish coast is preparing for a new edition of the Beaufort Triennial in 2027. Put it on your calendar now.

After that amazing bike ride, we stroll back along the promenade. There, we come across an icon of Ostend’s culinary heritage: the Vistrap. This open-air fish market consists of four stalls, each of which is linked to a fishing family that has been in the trade for generations. They head out in their fishing boats at night and then return to start selling their catch at dawn. It doesn't get any fresher than this. Right next to the Vistrap, we spot another handful of stalls where you can sample a few local classics, such as freshly fried kibbeling (battered fish bites), fish soup, oysters or other delicious delicacies from the North Sea. We pick out a few things and sit on the steps of the little square across the road. It is a splendid spot for an impromptu lunch.

We follow the seafront promenade towards the Royal Galleries. This covered walkway along the North Sea was once built to protect the public from the sun and rain. It is now a venue for surprising exhibitions, as is the adjoining Venetian Galleries. The vibrant museum of modern and contemporary art Mu.ZEE is currently closed for extensive renovations. While that is going on, you can enjoy a bit of the Mu.ZEE collections here. A little further on, we come across two more iconic landmarks: Wellington Racecourse and the Art Deco Thermae Palace hotel. This regal setting will soon provide the backdrop for a world-class sporting event: the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in 2027.

At Wellington Racecourse, we hop on the Coast Tram, the longest tram line in the world. It runs like a ribbon along the Flemish coast: 67 kilometres long, with 67 stops. It is a simple, comfortable way to explore the Flemish coast. During the summer months, a new tram departs every 10 minutes in both directions.

The tram brings us to Atlantikwall Raversyde, an impressive open-air museum where we discover one of the best-preserved remains of the Atlantic Wall. Nazi Germany built this more than 5,000-kilometre-long defensive line along the occupied territories in Western Europe during the Second World War. We walk through an impressive complex of dozens of bunkers, open and underground passageways, observation posts, gun emplacements and much more.

After a fascinating history lesson, the tram returns us swiftly and safely to the centre of Ostend. The sun is slowly setting, evening is upon us and our two-day trip is coming to an end. But a tasty finale still awaits. We round off our adventure in the Mosselhuis. In this legendary café, Michelin-starred chef Willem Hiele celebrates the rich fishing history and the pure flavours of the sea. It's honest, no-nonsense cuisine based on the local catch: a splendid finale to two fantastic days by the sea. See you again soon, Ostend!