geocalia
Day itinerary · 51.25° N · 2.97° E
The Mercator sailing ship and Ensor's house in the morning, North Sea fish at midday and in the afternoon the coast tram to the belle époque villas of De Haan.
Part of Ostend and De Haan
The plan
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
direct from Bruxelles-Midi or Central, via Ghent and Bruges
€8 · five minutes from the station
€14 · time slot with booking · closed Mondays
North Sea fish · Friday to Monday · book
Nieuwstraat 14, 8400 Oostende · +32 59 70 51 60
De Lijn, from the station; every 10–20 min
get off at De Haan, next to the tourist office
tram to Ostend station
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
The Belgian coast is an hour and a quarter from Brussels by direct train, and at the door of Ostend station the tram that runs the whole length of it leaves. This plan devotes the morning to Ostend, with its museum ship and the house of the painter of masks, has North Sea fish for lunch and goes to De Haan in the afternoon, the village of belle époque villas.
8:30 · Train to Ostend. Direct, about an hour and a quarter.
10:00 · The Mercator sailing ship. The three-masted training ship in the marina, €8.
11:00 · James Ensor's house. His house intact and five interactive rooms, €14, with a time slot.
12:30 · Lunch at Café Mosselhuis. Fish and seafood of the day with chef Willem Hiele, Friday to Monday. Book.
14:15 · The beach and the seafront promenade.
15:30 · The coast tram. From the station, eastwards.
16:00 · The De Haan Concessie. Timber-framed villas among the dunes and De Haan's quiet promenade.
17:45 · Return. Tram to Ostend and train to Brussels.
Where to eat
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
What to order: the mussels or the catch of the day from the suggestions, which change according to what the boats bring in
What to order: lunch with local produce, or breakfast before catching the tram
What to order: the handmade grey shrimp croquettes, the fried soles or the free-range chicken vol-au-vent with sweetbreads
Map
With where to park at each one.
Getting there
When to go
All year. In November the Mercator opens only at weekends and Ensor's house is closed on Mondays; Café Mosselhuis is open Friday to Monday. From May to September, the beach.
Questions
Between €70 and €110 per person with train, tram, museums and lunch.
Yes, but the Mercator opens only at weekends and Villa Julia, in De Haan, is closed from 18 November to 27 December.
More plans like this
geocalia.com/en/belgium/ostend-and-de-haan/itineraries/mercator-ensor-and-coast-tram
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/ostend-and-de-haan/itineraries/mercator-ensor-and-coast-tram
