Travel Eye on Ostend (Belgium)

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Overview:

Ostend is a flat seaside resort measuring 5 mls by 3 mls. It is characterised by a hotchpotch of architecture resulting from random rebuilding after World War II. In addition to a palatial 1930s-vintage thermal hotel, the town boasts a racecourse, beautifully landscaped public park, Olympic-size swimming pool, casino and an old fishermen's quarter with a picturesque seafront promenade, twin piers and yacht port. Ostend is also the country's principal fishing port and for generations a favourite with the Belgian royal family. This area caters for mainly middlemarket and is suitable for all ages. It is a favourite with couples visiting from Brussels for the weekend.

The accommodation is plentiful, but there is a lack of luxury hotels. Most of the hotels are dotted around the old fishermen's quarter.

Locality:

Ostend is on the Belgian coast (20 mls SW of the Dutch border, 20 mls NE of the French border, 70 mls NW of Brussels. Local airport 4 mls). It is surrounded by flat fields and meadows with canals, fertile polders and gentle dunes.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

There is a broad strip of sand which is subject to the weather's whims.

There are open markets and small shops in the fishermen's quarter vaunt Flemish foodstuffs (particularly seafood) and lace.

During the daytime activities include guided walks, horse-drawn carriage rides, an aquarium, many museums of modern art, fine art and folklore. There is the unusual house of local painter James Ensor, and the impressive neo-Gothic church of St Peter and Paul.

Sporting activities include angling, hiring bicycles, golf, karting, indoor climbing, minigolf, sailing and tennis. There are also educational nature walks in vast Maria Hendrikapark.

The nightlife here is lively, there is a casino, musical comedy and theatre, jazz pubs and a disco.

There is a long line of restaurants on the seafront promenade and at the yacht port serving specialities such as sole, lobster, oysters, prawns, mussels with French fries, bouillabaisse, "Waterzooi" and "Paling in 't groen" .

You can get typical snacks from whelk stalls. Ther is a range of fast-food eateries. Try out the local gin and the waffles.