Once a seaside resort favoured by royalty, today it combines a maritime atmosphere, lively culture and contemporary art. Between the lively seafront, the fishing port, the endless beaches and the art galleries, visitors discover a different face of Belgium.
Your journey begins in Ostend, the "queen of beaches". Here, the house of James Ensor opens its doors to you for a plunge into the eccentric and poetic world of this revolutionary painter. Each room whispers the story of this artist who redefined the codes of art, a true tribute to the Belgian soul. Not far away, local flavours come to your table at the Brasserie Albert, where the sea invites itself onto your plate and through its large bay windows.
The journey continues to Nieuwpoort, where the Westfront Memorial recounts the power of the elements used as a strategic weapon during the Great War. The 180° panoramic projection transports you into a shattering past, an experience that is both educational and emotional, and concludes with a breathtaking view of the coast and its polders.
In Oostduinkerke, time seems to stand still during prawn fishing on horseback. This rare spectacle, listed as a UNESCO intangible heritage site, reveals a centuries-old tradition. Between the lapping of the waves and the slow rhythm of the horses, you witness a communion with the sea that defies time.
The journey ends in style in Saint-Idesbald, at the Paul Delvaux Museum. Here, the master's canvases, watercolours and sketches transport you into a surreal world imbued with poetry.
