Ostend is a seaside town, as well as the largest Belgian port on the North Sea coast. The name of the city translates as "Eastern Territory". This is explained by the fact that at first it was located in the east of the island Testerap. Later, the sea level decreased, as a result of which the island and the big land became one, but the name of the city preserved the memory of those times when it was not so.
The coastal tram
The coastal tram is not just a form of Belgian public transport, allowing you to get to any point of Ostend, but a real attraction. Its route is the longest in the world and is 68 kilometers.
Spaans Huisje.
A simple brick mansion with a stepped pediment was built in 1741. Its name misleads tourists: in fact, the house should be called Austrian, because it appeared here during the Austrian rule.
North Sea Aquarium.
Ostend aquarium, which has been operating since 1977, would never have appeared without the help of local fishermen who brought their catch here.
Fort Napoleon.
The construction of a huge fortress took about 8 million bricks. The thickness of the walls that surround the main buildings of the fortress is more than 2 meters.
Sint-Petrus-en-Pauluskerk.
The Church is notable for being the mausoleum of the first Belgian Queen Louise Maria, who died in Ostend in 1850 and was buried in the Annex of the Church.
Provinciedomein Raversijde.
The Museum consists of three museums: the old estate of Prince Charles, the chain of fortifications called the Atlantic shaft, and restored a former fishing village Villaverde.
Mercator.
Three-masted training ship "Mercator", from 1932 to 1961, owned by the Belgian merchant fleet, now turned into a Maritime Museum.
Museumschip Amandine.
The ship-Museum will tell you about the hard life of the Belgian fishermen, accompanied by your tour with music and interesting stories.
