How To Plan Your Trip To The Belgian Coast

Only spanning 65 km, the Belgian coast is by no means the longest in Europe, but, it does have the longest coastline tram. It’ll take you all the way from the Netherlands to France (De Panne to Knokke-Heist).

Their tramline has several stops along the way where you can get off and explore the different coastal cities. There’s shopping, art and culture, outdoor activities, and WWI and WWII historical sites, not to mention breathtaking views of the coastline.

It’s a nice break from the city, if you just want to head there for the day. But there’s also enough to do that you can stay overnight. If you do end up going for only the day, be sure to stay to watch the sunset, it makes for some really romantic pictures!

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How To Get To The Belgian Coast?

If you’re not staying in one of the coastal cities, the easiest way to get to the Belgian coast for a day trip is from Bruges.

You can go from Bruges to Blankenberge where there’s a tram stop directly across from the train station. I recommend going south towards Oostend from there.

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First Timers Guide: Bruges Belgium

All Aboard The Belgian Coast Tram

The Belgian Coast tram is 143 minutes in total from border to border with 68 stops along the way. It costs about 6 €/ person for unlimited travel for one day. You can buy them on the tram itself from the driver, at Blankenberge station at the yellow box, or download the DeLijn app.

I recommend downloading the app, especially if you don’t carry change. When I was there the yellow box was out of order and no one was working at the box office.

The tram comes about every 10-15 minutes during peak hours and high season. During low season and off hours, it can come up to every 30 minutes to every hour. So be sure to check when it comes!

See updated prices and route planner.

Notable Cities To Check Out On The Belgian Coast

Along the Belgian Coast, there are several cities that are worth checking out!

The Belgian Coast: Visit Oostend

Oostend is one of the bigger coastal cities you can visit. There are no shortage of activities to do here. They have all the shopping you’ll need and a great boardwalk to bike or walk along (you can rent bikes there). They also have a free art exhibit at the royal gallery, usually, portrait photography, and out of this world sand sculptures. And if you manage to be there during the right time of year, the Japanese gardens might be open.

If you’re lucky you might be able to spot some traditional fishers in the water. They’re easy to notice because they’re fishing on horseback (find out more here). If not, you might be able to see them if you go to Oostduinkerke.

There are several tram stops that will drop you off in Oostend, but the main one is Maria – Joséplein, you’ll know when to get off because everyone will be leaving the tram at this stop.

A bit past Oostend is Raversyde which is home to the Atlantik Wall, the WWI and WWII memorial site. I highly recommend spending some time here. It’s different from other WWII museums where they only have artifacts behind glass. At the Atlantik Wall, you walk through the trenches and into the bunkers.

* Accepts card 8€/ person – See updated prices.

It’s a bit complicated to get to if you’re coming from Oostend by tram. You’ll want to get off at Domein-Raversijde, cross the street and find the stairs to get over the hill. Once over the hill, walk down to the street where you’ll turn right. It’s about a two-minute walk before seeing the entrance.

De Hanne

There are three stops that you can get off at to see the coastal town of De Hanne. But the one you want is De Hanne Ann Zee.

You don’t have to venture far into this town to fully appreciate it’s beauty. Right when you step off the tram, their picturesque train station is there to greet you. Walk a bit further to see the influence that the French had on the architecture.

If you have time to venture a bit further into town, you can go towards Spioenkop. It’s a nice lookout on to the coast.

The End of The Coastal Tramline: De Panne & Knokke

De Panne is the end of the line on the French border. A great spot to get off is for the Paul Delvaux Museum. We didn’t have time to go, but it sounded like a nice break from all of the classical art that you see throughout the main museums in Europe. This focuses on Paul Delvaux’s life and works as a surrealist artist.

Knokke: is all the way on the other end of the tramline, bordering the Netherland. I’ve heard it’s quite a posh stop with fashion and shopping along the beach.

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Food To Try On The Belgian Coast

A definite must try is obviously the freshly caught seafood. You can’t get any fresher than on the Belgian Coast. If you’ve already had too many muscles, the coast is mainly known for their north grey shrimp. They are a bit smaller than you’re probably used to, but are great on a salad.

View a map of the destinations mentioned here.