The saltiness of the sea on Ostend Oosteroever and the Spuikom

Oostende Oosteroever is undergoing a revival With seawater everywhere on our left and/or right side , the salty smell of the sea is always present.

At the beginning of 2023, it will be in the news due to the commotion surrounding the light of the 'Lange Nelle' lighthouse that shines on the high apartment buildings.

Karel Deschildre said in the newspapers in 2022 : “There is much more here than the beach”: a walking map should allow tourists to discover the sights of the East Bank (Ostend) | The News magazine . His business 'Regional Products Deschildere' , where you can taste and buy regional products, invariably receives a five out of five in the ratings and is worth the trip/crossing alone.

Whoever wishes can make this a perfect day trip: with a visit to Fort Napoleon at the beginning or the end of the walk and a lunch and terrace in the middle, the day will be well filled!

You can park for free at the parking lot of Fort Napoleon. By public transport, the use of the ferry (free) is ideal.

We start at Fort Napoleon. Visits take about an hour. You can choose to do this at the beginning or at the end of the walk. Nice brasserie, also for non-visitors of the museum!

We walk to the sea and along the HMS Victory to the end of the brand new breakwater to the new lighthouse far out to sea. Relax on a sofa and enjoy the sun and sea ...

We retrace our steps and pass some remnants from the Second World War, the first being the Halve Maan battery and a German mortar bunker. We will also be able to admire some works of art from the street art festival 'The Crystal Ship' on this walk.

We sniff out the old fishery via a wooden shrimp boat, the Slipways where ships were repaired and the old fish mine with the spratskot. The fact that regional products are strongly promoted here is something we now experience on the maritime square, which is undergoing a metamorphosis. Regional products Deschildre and De Cierk are more than worth a visit!

We leave the fishing port area and arrive at Het Eilandje with its special history of the IBIS children. At the Spuikom , which we walk all the way around, there are only water sports associations active. This brings us to the only oyster farm in Belgium at De Oesterput. Lunch at the seafood bar?

Along a few works by The Crystal Ship we pass the fishing dock on the Oosteroever to the new construction projects. Apartments with a swimming pool on the eleventh and fourteenth floors, The Ensor towers, Central park, the eateries, ... everything is being built here to become the new hip neighbourhood. The highest floors get the free light from 'Lange Nelle' ...

Past the new marina and battery Hundius we come again to Fort Napoleon.

Be sure to also consult the information about the sights once you are there . They explain what you get to see!

02/2023