Zeebrugge Attractions

Zeebrugge, at the western end of the Belgian coast belongs to Bruges and since 1907 has been linked to the latter by the Boudewijnkanaal. It is the only Belgian seaport situated directly on the coast and is therefore of great importance both for freight and for passenger traffic. More recently the town has become increasingly popular as a resort, even if the beach is somewhat small, and Zeebrugge has no historic promenade such as Knokke-Heist nor a nature reserve such as De Panne.

During the First World War Zeebrugge was the most important German U-boat base which was closed in 1918 in a spectacular action on St George's Day. This event is commemorated by the St George Memorial at the landward end of the mole. Zeebrugge got into the headlines when on March 6, 1987 the British ferry "Herald of Free Enterprise" on leaving the harbor for Dover overturned about 800m/875yds from the quayside and 209 people were drowned. In the view of experts this happening was caused by the ferry having left harbor with the bow doors open.