Ostend - Harbor

Two so-called sea landing stages (Flemish Staketsel) extend out for a long way into the sea to protect the entrance of the harbor. The western breakwater, 625m/684yds long, is popular as a viewpoint.

Must-see attractions nearby:

Typical Visit

2 hours

Related Attractions

Defense Works

Further on past the lighthouse stretch dunes with remains of defense works of both world wars and the Fort Napoléon which dates from napoleonic times.

Typical Visit

1 hour

Fish Hall

The new fishing harbor is located on the far side of the harbor basin by the Visserijdok. In the fish hall (vismijn) every weekday except Thursdays the fish auction begins at 7 am. From 9 am prawns and shrimps are auctioned.

Typical Visit

30 minutes

Jet Foil to Dover

From the ferry terminal, where the first ferry to England left in 1846, jet foils ply to Dover.

Mercator

In the yacht harbor the former training ship of the Belgian maritime marine the "Mercator" lies at anchor. This three-mast schooner is now a museum in which souvenirs of the 41 trips that the ship made are displayed

Address

Mercator
Mercatordok
B-8400 Oostende
Belgium

Hours

June 1 to June 30

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00
Close	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00
Open	13:00	13:00	13:00	13:00	13:00	13:00	13:00
Close	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00

July 1 to August 31

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00
Close	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00	19:00

September 1 to September 30

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00	9:00
Close	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00
Open	13:00	13:00	13:00	13:00	13:00	13:00	13:00
Close	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00

October 1 to May 31

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	9:00	9:00
Close						12:00	12:00
Open						13:00	13:00
Close						18:00	18:00

Always closed on:

New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)

Guides

Guided tour available as optional extra.

Typical Visit

1 hour

New Lighthouse

To the east, on the far side of the harbor entrance and the fishing harbor, rises the 56m/184ft-high Nieuwe Vuurtoren (new lighthouse).

Typical Visit

20 minutes

North Sea Aquarium

On the mole the North Sea Aquarium can be visited.

Hours

June 1 to September 30

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00
Close	12:30	12:30	12:30	12:30	12:30	12:30	12:30
Open	14:00	14:00	14:00	14:00	14:00	14:00	14:00
Close	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00

October 1 to May 31

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	10:00	10:00
Close						12:30	12:30
Open						14:00	14:00
Close						18:00	18:00

Typical Visit

1 hour

Visserskaai

North of the yacht harbor can be found the old fishing harbor and the Visserskaai.

Typical Visit

2 hours

West Mole

There are trips round the harbor and to sea on the "Franlis" (west mole) from 10:45 am.

Tips

Cruises available daily at 10:45am. between June to September 15. From April to May, cruises only available on weekends at 10:45am.