Blankenberge, with its 3km/2mile stretch of beach on Belgium's North Sea coast, first began to attract holiday makers as long ago as 1860. Despite having been somewhat eclipsed of late by Knokke-Heist, it remains one of the country's best known seaside resorts, popular especially with families and offering a wide range of sporting and leisure activities. Today the tourists who throng the town in summer are the primary source of income, the small fishing fleet contributing only modestly to the economy.
Kerkstraat, Blankenberge's main thoroughfare, runs past the station, lined with shops and restaurants. Steps at its northern end lead up to the Zeedijk. No. 31 Kerkstraat, the former town hall built in 1680, is used for art exhibitions.
West of the Grote Markt lies a modern yacht marina, its entrance protected from silting by a 300m/330yd long pile breakwater. There are berths for 900 boats.
Opened at Easter in 1995, the Blankenberge Sea Life Center employs the latest in aquarium technology that provides excellent marine life displays for the viewer.
As a centerpiece, visitors have the opportunity to venture down a 8m tunnel that sits on the sea bed. From here they can view a wide variety of marine life.
Address: Sea Life Center, Koning Albert I Laan 116, B-8370 Blankenberge, Belgium
Opposite the station stands the Gothic Sint-Antoniuskerk, first consecrated in 1358. Restored in the 17th C., its furnishings are mainly 18th C. pieces.
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Wenduine, Belgium
