# Day trip to Ostend and De Haan from Brussels: the Mercator, Ensor and the coast tram

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.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/ostend-and-de-haan/itineraries/mercator-ensor-and-coast-tram · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 08:30 · Salida: 1 h 15 by train (direct from Bruxelles-Midi or Central, via Ghent and Bruges)
- 10:00 · The Mercator sailing ship, the training vessel in Ostend harbour (€8 · five minutes from the station)
  - 10 min on foot
- 11:00 · James Ensor's house (€14 · time slot with booking · closed Mondays)
  - 8 min on foot
- 12:30 · Café Mosselhuis (North Sea fish · Friday to Monday · book) · Café Mosselhuis, €€€
  - 8 min on foot
- 14:15 · Ostend beach and seafront promenade (free)
  - 15 min on foot
- 15:30 · The coast tram, from Ostend to De Haan (De Lijn, from the station; every 10–20 min)
  - 15 min by tram
- 16:00 · The De Haan Concessie, the belle époque villa quarter (get off at De Haan, next to the tourist office)
- 17:45 · Vuelta: 15 min by tram (tram to Ostend station)
  - 1 h 15 by train (in Brussels around 19:45)

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.

## The day, hour by hour

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.

## Cómo llegar

### Without a car
Direct train to Ostend and the coast tram to De Haan.

### By car
An hour and a half along the E40. Leave the car in Ostend and do the stretch to De Haan by tram.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does a day on the coast cost?
Between €70 and €110 per person with train, tram, museums and lunch.

### Is it worth it in winter?
Yes, but the Mercator opens only at weekends and Villa Julia, in De Haan, is closed from 18 November to 27 December.