6 Best Sights in Oostende, Bruges and the Coast

Just to the west of town among the dunes (bus lines 68 and 69 stop outside), this is one of the best preserved parts of the German "Atlantikwall" defensive line, built to repel Allied invasion during World War II. You are free to explore around 60 bunkers, observation posts, and gun emplacements, all connected by 2 km (1.3 miles) of open trenches and underground passages. On the same site is Anno 1465, a re-creation of a long-vanished medieval fishing settlement that once stood on this spot.

Oostende's long, sandy Large Beach is popular with sun-seeking families and sporty surfers alike. On the landward side, the elevated Albert I Promenade is lined with shops and tearooms that compete for attention with views of the sand and sea. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

The James Ensorhuis is an introduction to the strange and hallucinatory world of the painter James Ensor (1860–1949), who was recognized late in his life as one of the great artists of the early 20th century. Using violent colors to express his frequently macabre or satirical themes, he depicted a fantastic carnival world peopled by masks and skeletons. The displays in this house, which was his home and studio, include many of the objects found in his work, especially the masks, and copies of his major paintings. Beside the house are five interactive spaces that use audiovisual displays to bring Ensor’s paintings to life.

To the east of the Groot Strand, Klein Strand (Small Beach) occupies the area beside the breakwaters at the entrance to Oostende Harbor. It's less popular than its neighbor as swimming here is prohibited. instead, it is used for activities and events. Amenities:  food and drink; parking (fee). Best for: sunset; walking. 

This handsome three-masted training ship of the Belgian merchant marine, which sailed from the 1930s to the 1960s, is now moored close to the city center, ready to sail if needed. Decks, fittings, and the spartan quarters have been kept intact, and there’s a museum of mementos brought home from the ship’s exotic voyages; during one they hauled back mysterious statues from Easter Island.

Oostende's modern art museum contains works by Belgian contemporary artists, from 1880 to the present day, and is well represented by Pierre Alechinsky, Roger Raveel, and Paul van Hoeydonck (whose statuette, The Fallen Astronaut, was deposited on the moon by the Apollo XV crew), among others. Ceramics, paintings, sculpture, and graphic art are all displayed.