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.
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.
