3. Ostend Town
If you want to mix some history and culture into a beach day trip to Ostend, head to the center of the old town where you can view the Feestpalais at the Wapenplein, which was built in 1957 in place of the old town hall, destroyed in the Second World War. On the first floor is the local De Plate Museum, which traces the history of the town through its fishing and resort tourism industries. The second floor is home to the Museum of Fine Art, which has a collection of works by James Ensor, Constant Permeke, and other Belgian artists.
North of the Wapenplein in Vlaanderenstraat, you can visit the old home of James Ensor, now dedicated to a museum of the local artist’s life where many of his personal belongings, sketches, and his studio can be seen. The bulky Gothic Sint-Petrus-en-Pauluskerk in Kapellestraat is another of Ostend Old Town’s major attractions. The church now standing dates from 1905, but remnants of the older church, including the 18th-century brick Peperbus tower and relics of the 15th century, can still be seen. Ostend lies about 29 kilometers west of Bruges.
4. Blankenberge
With its three kilometers of beach, the North Sea coastal resort of Blankenberge, 18 kilometers northwest of Bruges, first began to attract holidaymakers as long ago as 1860. The town’s seafront promenade–known as the Zeedijk–runs along the coast here and is packed with walkers, bathers, and tourists during the summer months.
At the eastern end of the promenade are the Lustige Velodroom cycling track and Sea Life Blankenberge with aquariums, both popular attractions with visiting families. When you’ve had your fill of beach time and want to soak up some culture rather than sun, head to the Gothic Sint-Antoniuskerk, near the train station, which was first consecrated in 1358 and restored during the 17th century.
