Family house with stunning roof terrace

The Neighborhood

Ostend has grown from a medieval fishing village into a real city. In the 18th century, the Ostend Company brought wealth to the city by trading with the Far East. Ostend is a city on the Belgian coast and is known for its long beach and promenade. Docked in the marina, the Mercator is a 3-masted 1930s ship that now acts as a floating museum. The museum MuZEE displays Belgian art from the 1830s onward. The neo-Gothic–style Church of St. Peter and St. Paul has soaring spires and distinctive stained-glass windows. Near the harbour in the dunes near Bredene, Fort Napoleon is a 5-sided fortification built in 1811. Ostend is located on the North Sea, approximately in the middle of the 64 km long Belgian coastline from Knokke to De Panne. Ostend is located east of Middelkerke and hence got its name. Just like Westende, which is located on the west side of Middelkerke. Ostend used to be the summer residence of the Belgian royal family and was therefore given the name Queen of Seaside Resorts. In the meantime, the royal villa has been converted into a hotel-restaurant and the monarchs only visit Ostend for official occasions. Ostend is the only Belgian coastal city that lives long summer and winter. You will find culture, sport, gastronomy in short, everyone will find something to their liking. In addition to the pedestrian shopping streets in the center, there is also the Alfons Pieterslaan and the Torhoutsesteenweg. Every Thursday is market day in Ostend (Wapenplein–Groentemarkt–Mijnplein). After the summer period, there are fairs in various shopping streets. But Ostend is also a typical night city with many places to eat and drink and its typical night restaurants. There are also some typical local pubs, with organ music and singing, especially for the thousands of tourists to enjoy themselves. The annual fair, 'de foore', also radiates far beyond the national borders. Before starting their hibernation, most foorkramers visit the Ostend foor again. In October you can enjoy the many foor attractions on the three markets of Ostend throughout the month. During the Christmas and New Year period you can ice skate on the Grote Markt in Ostend and drink a delicious Glühwein or do your Christmas shopping at the Christmas market that is being built around it. On New Year's Eve, Ostend is a real party city. You can get special menus in the many restaurants, the various pubs do their utmost to ensure that the end of the year takes place in a special atmosphere. Several thousand visitors celebrate the New Year at the Silvester Gala every year. Ostend is also the carnival city par excellence on the Belgian coast. Carnival is celebrated every year around a specific theme. Often the first weekend of March is traditionally the carnival weekend of Ostend, with among others the Cimateirestoet (floats touring the city center accompanied by natives in costume) and the Kloeffesworp, after a parade through the center thousands of 'gaps' are seen on the market square from the carillon tower ejected, including one gold specimen. You can take a tour with the special mini-train or with one of the many authentic carriages. The Ostend coachmen are happy to explain the main attractions. In the summer there is the big (jazz) pub crawl with live music in all participating bars (jazz, blues, pop, rock, etc). Throughout the summer you can practice the most diverse sports during "Ostend moves". Ostend has its Olympic swimming pool, where you can also swim in the outdoor pool during the summer or sunbathe on a lazy beach chair. You can sail, surf and water ski at sea. You can go to BLOSO on the Spuikom to learn how to sail and surf. Ostend is easily reachable by car and train. For more detailed information we refer to the websites “visitoostende” en “dekust”.