Ostend Attractions

The most celebrated festival in Ostend is the "Ball of the Dead Rats" which takes place during the carnival. It was created by Ostend's greatest son, the painter James Ensor (1860-1949) and his friends who had seen it in Paris in the cabaret "Au Rat Mort" in Montmartre.

Belgium Kite International is a model kite festival.

On the first floor of the Feestpalais is the local museum "De Plate" where a great deal of interesting material about the resort and the fishing at Ostend can be seen.

Situated in the dunes, 6km/3.75miles to the northeast, is De Haan which is more tranquil than Ostend. Strict building regulations ensure that no concrete tower blocks are erected but only pleasant looking houses and villas in green surroundings. De Haan has today, therefore, something of the look of the Belle Epoque.

In the center of old Ostend on the Wapenplein stands the Feestpalais which was built in 1957 in place of the old town hall of 1711 destroyed in the Second World War.

The carnival-like prawn and shrimp festival and the Blessing of the Sea in May attract many visitors.

The International Firework Festival is held in Ostend every two days from the middle of the month of August.

North of the Wapenplein in Vlaanderenstrat No. 27 James Ensor was born. The house is now furnished as a museum, in which the old shop of his uncle and aunt, personal belongings and sketches, as well as the living room and studio of the painter can be seen.

South of the city center extends Maria-Hendrike-Park with a prominent water tower. Here visitors can walk or take boat trips.

On the second floor of the Feestpalais is the Museum of Fine Art which has a good collection of works by James Ensor, Constant Permeke and other Belgian artists.

All the exhibits here concern James Ensor but are about his religious themes.

Ostend has five bathing beaches with all facilities such as showers, cabins, deck-chairs etc.: the small beach between the dike and the harbor entrance, the western beach between the kursaal and the racecourse, the beaches of Mariakerke and Raversijde west of the racecourse, and the beach to the east of the harbor.

The Provinciaal Museum voor Moderne Kunst is devoted to contemporary Belgian art.

The museum will exhibit the works of Emile Claus through October 5, 1997.

Remains of the Atlantic rampart can be seen in the suburb of Raversijde situated to the southwest of Ostend.

In Kapellestraat, leading south from the Wapenplein, stands the three-aisled Gothic Sint- Petrus-en-Pauluskerk (1905). Only the brick tower "Peperbus" from the first half of the 18th C. with relics of the 15th C. remains from the old church. The funeral chapel of the Belgian Queen Louise-Marie, who died in Ostend in 1850, was built on to the choir.

The facilities for sport are so comprehensive (including archery, sailing, riding) that almost every activity is catered for.