A Day Trip to the Belgian Coast: The Best Things to Do in Ostend and De Haan

The Belgian coast spans from De Panne on the French border, to Knokke-Heist on the Dutch border. The coastline is just over 40 miles.

This stretch of beaches and cute coastal towns is hugely popular with the Belgian population, who flock to the beach resorts during the summer. Even during the colder months, you’ll see many families still enjoying the beaches and the seaside atmosphere. The biggest and most popular town on the Belgian coast is Ostend (Ostende in French and Oostende in Dutch), but each town has its own quirks and attractions.

Travelling to the Belgian coast is one of the best day trips to take from Brussels (or another Belgian city). It’s really easy to get to, and there is so much to easily explore. This post will take you through everything you need for the perfect day trip, from how to get there, how to get around, and of course, the best things to do. Here you’ll find the best things to do in Ostend and De Haan, as they are the two places I visited during my day trip to the Belgian coast, but there are many more towns that you may want to explore.

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How to Get to the Belgian Coast from Brussels

The two best ways to get from Brussels to the Belgian Coast are by train or car.

If you want to explore one or two places along the Belgian coast, I recommend going to Ostend. However, if you want to travel the whole coast, it makes sense to start in either De Panne or Knokke-Heist. In this case, I’d recommend taking the train, as you can arrive and depart from different places along the coast.

By Car

By car, it’ll take just over an hour to get to Ostend. Leave Brussels to the north and take the E40 motorway. You’ll leave the E40 just outside Ostend, and take the A10 into the city. Check out the route on Google Maps.

If you’d like to visit De Panne (French border) it will take another 30 minutes. As before, leave Brussels to the north on the E40, but continue west on the motorway. Just outside De Panne, you’ll turn onto the N8 and then the N35. Click here for the directions on Google Maps.

To reach Knokke Heist (Dutch border), again you’ll take the E40, but you’ll leave the motorway just outside Oostkamp, taking the N31 around Bruges, and then the A11 and N49 into the town. Here are the Google Maps directions.

By Train

There are direct trains from Brussels to Ostend and Knokke. You’ll find the occasional direct train to De Panne but most of the time you’ll have to change in Ghent.

You can use the SNCB website to plan the best route for you.

The Coastal Tram: How to Get Around the Belgian Coast

The towns along the Belgian coast are quite small, so you may want to visit more than one during your day trip. Luckily, there is a tram that drives back and forth across the whole coast. There are 67 stops, and it’s actually the longest tram line in the world (at least for the moment), so it’s worth taking a ride even just for the experience!

An unlimited day ticket costs just €7,50 which is fantastic value. On my day trip, I chose to visit one other town by tram, as I didn’t want to feel rushed. If this is the case for you, you may prefer to opt for a single or return ticket, priced at €2,50 and €5 respectively. There are also day passes for more than one day, if you are planning a longer trip to the Belgian coast. All ticket options can be found on the coastal tram website.

There is a tram every 10 to 20 minutes during the day. You can find the full timetables and all 67 stops by clicking the website link above.

Which Towns Should I Visit on the Belgian Coast?

Already in this post, I’ve mentioned the three main towns on the Belgian Coast: De Panne, Ostend, and Knokke-Heist.

I’d recommend visiting at least one of these places and plan to visit the smaller towns nearby. Alternatively, you could visit two, or all three, of the main towns. In reality, there are countless different combinations of day trips you could plan to explore the Belgian coast.

On my day trip, I chose to visit Ostend and De Haan. This is a great combination if you want to be able to relax and do a lot of wandering. However, you should definitely make sure to do some research, in case there are other hidden gems that you want to visit.

The Best Things to Do in Ostend in a Day

Ostend is the biggest town on the Belgian coast, and so there is a lot to enjoy. In the warmer months, you’ll want to head straight to the beach and make the most of the (hopefully) good weather. However, Ostend is still a great place to visit during the autumn and winter and you’ll find plenty of things to do besides sunbathing.

Ostend Beach

We can’t deny that the main event of the Belgian coast is, of course, the coast! If you’re lucky enough to visit Ostend during the spring or summer, you’ll want to grab a sunbathing spot and set up camp there for the day. Be prepared for crowds – when I visited in November, there were still a lot of people on the beach, so I don’t want to think about how busy it gets when it’s actually warm enough to sunbathe!

If you’re visiting Ostend in the colder months, you can still enjoy a lovely walk along the Boardwalk. There is an amazing view out into the North Sea, and you’ll find a few different art installations along the way.

Fort Napoleon

Across the water, you can find an old fort that was used in both WWI and WWII. The restored site is now a museum where you can explore its incredible history.

Tickets for the fort cost €9, with discounts for children and groups. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am-6 pm (closes at 5 pm during the winter. You can find all the practical information on their website. You can reach Fort Napoleon via the coastal tram, or why not take the free ferry across the water?

Atlantikwall

Next to Fort Napoleon, you can also find the Atlantikwall. This was part of the German defence line used during the World Wars, and it has been well preserved for you to explore. You can discover bunkers and trenches steeped in history.

Tickets only cost a few euros, but the Atlantikwall is rarely open. From March to November, you can visit from 10:30-6 on the weekends, and it’s closed during the week. It’s also closed completely through the winter. You’ll have to get lucky to be able to visit, but it sounds worth it!

Mu.ZEE

Mu.ZEE is a fantastic museum if you’re interested in embracing as much of Belgian culture as possible during your trip. The museum is filled with Belgian art, both from past centuries and the present day.

You’ll find Mu.ZEE in the centre of Ostend. Tickets are €12 for adults, but only €1 for those under 26 (and free for under 12s), which is a great deal. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m Tuesday-Sunday.

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‘t Kroegske

This little café might just be the cutest spot in all of Ostend. The colourful façade is so eye-catching, you’ll instantly want to eat here! The café was closed when I visited, but I still managed to enjoy the building from the outside.

‘t Kroegske seems to be a local legend, so if you find it open ( daily 11:00 to 14:00;18:00 to 00:00), you have to pop inside. It’s on Sint-Paulusstraat.

The neighbouring ‘t Mespuntje restaurant isn’t quite as impressive in terms of façade, but it helps to add to the colourful charm of this little square.

The Best Things to Do in De Haan

A quick trip on the coastal tram (towards Knokke-Heist from Ostend), will find you in De Haan, a small town with a charming history, and equally as charming architecture. This Belgian hidden gem is probably the most fairytale-esque place I have ever come across, and I know you’ll want to visit.

Most of De Haan’s charm comes from the gorgeous houses, so wandering around the area is the best thing to do here. However, here are a few spots that you can’t miss.

Albert Einstein Statue

Famous physicist Albert Einstein lived in De Haan for a month or two in 1933, taking refuge from the growing danger of the Nazi regime in his home country of Germany.

De Haan has a statue dedicated to Albert Einstein found in Place Astridlaan, to the east of the town. It’s also said that he lived in Villa Savoyard on Shakespearelaan.

De Haan Beach

Unsurprisingly, and just like Ostend, De Haan has a lovely beach to explore. The ice cream stalls had long lines even in winter, so it’s worth enjoying one as you wander along the promenade.

Koninklijk Plein

Koninklijk Plein is a lovely little pedestrian area and one of the most beautiful photo spots in De Haan. There is a little fountain, cobbled ground, and gorgeous houses that will make you think you’ve been transported to fairytale land. The main building is a gorgeous toy shop.

Rembrandtlaan

Although you’ll find nice spots across the whole town, Rembrandtlaan and the surrounding streets are one of the best places to see the charm of this unique place. It feels like you are taking a walk through the picturesque English countryside.

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Now you’re all ready to enjoy a day trip to the Belgian coast, with an itinerary of things to do, and all the other information that you need.

Have you ever visited the Belgian coast? Let me know where you went and what you did in a comment below, I’m always looking for new ideas for my next visit.

If you enjoyed this post, you might want to check out some more of my Belgium content, like my Dinant Day Trip Guide, or the best things to do in Brussels.

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