Frequently asked questions about amenities in Ostend

No, not all museums in Ostend are closed on Mondays, but many are.

• Check in advance: always check opening days and hours on the museum's own website.
• Holidays: different opening hours sometimes apply on public and school holidays.

Gemeente Oostende
Vindictivelaan 1
8400 Oostende
tel. +32 59-80 55 00
e-mail. stadsbestuur@oostende.be
web. https://www.oostende.be/

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Yes, many shops in Ostend are open on 1 November, even though All Saints' Day is a public holiday in Belgium.

• Tourist centre: on the coast, shops may also open on Sundays and public holidays; not every shop does, so check the shop's website if in doubt.
• Autumn holiday: 1 November falls in the Belgian autumn school holiday; expect it to be busy on the coast.
• Supermarkets: these often have shorter opening hours on public holidays.

Most shops, museums and attractions in Ostend are only closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day; many restaurants are actually open at Christmas.

• Christmas Eve (24 December): shops are usually open, often until late afternoon; many restaurants serve a Christmas menu.
• Christmas Day (25 December): public holiday; most shops, museums and attractions are closed, many restaurants are open and booking is often necessary.
• 26 December: an ordinary working day in Belgium, so shops and attractions are open.
• New Year's Eve (31 December): shops often close earlier; some restaurants are open.
• New Year's Day (1 January): public holiday; most shops are closed, some restaurants and cafés are open.
• Opening hours: check the exact times on the websites of the shops, museums and restaurants themselves.

You find all information about local restaurants in Ostend on: https://oostende.org/en/food-and-beverages.php

For an overview with information and opening hours of each restaurant in Ostend, we refer to the website: Resto

Yes, carnival is celebrated in style in Ostend, with a big carnival parade.

• More information: see carnival in Ostend.
• Date: on the coast the parades often take place later than elsewhere, sometimes weeks after carnival; the tourist office knows the current date and route.

No, there have been no ferries from Ostend to England since 2013, and there is no passenger ferry to England from anywhere else in Belgium either.

• Nearest: ferries to Dover sail from Dunkirk and Calais in northern France.
• Channel Tunnel: by car you can also take the shuttle through the Channel Tunnel from Calais.

In Ostend, shops are allowed to open every Sunday. Many shops are also open on Sundays, but not all shopkeepers take advantage of this opportunity.

The standard opening hours during holidays and shopping Sundays in Ostend are from 12:00 to 17:00.

In Belgium you buy or exchange gas bottles at a Primagaz dealer, at DIY stores and at some petrol stations; use the Primagaz dealer locator to find the nearest address to Ostend.

• Campingaz: in Belgium Primagaz also distributes the small blue Campingaz bottles.
• DIY stores: several Hubo stores sell butane and propane bottles.
• Connection: bottles from different countries do not always have the same connection; check that the bottle fits your regulator.

Yes, there are several self-service launderettes in Ostend.

• Cleanwash Oostende: Alfons Pieterslaan 76, Oostende; daily from 7 am to 10 pm.
• Wassalon Wasparadijs: Wittenonnenstraat 39, Oostende.
• Wash.ME Delhaize Hazegras: Leopold III-laan 7, Oostende.
• Wash.ME Delhaize Sea'Rena: Northlaan 13, Oostende.
• More locations: all Wash ME launderettes in Belgium are listed in the Wash ME location finder.

You indicate that you have lost or found something.

Lost something?
If you have an lost an object in (the region of) Ostend, you can inquire the local police station. Perhaps your item is already found.

After declaration of loss and showing your ID, you can retake your possession immediately.

Anything?
Do you have found an object (in this region), then it is your duty to do your best to give it back to the owner. If you know who the owner is, you can do this yourself. Do you not know who the owner is? You report the the item to the local police station.

Toerisme Oostende
Monacoplein 2
8400 Oostende
tel. +32 59-70 11 99
email. info@visitoostende.be

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If you want to get married in Ostend, you arrange this through the civil affairs department (Burgerzaken) of the municipality of Oostende.

• Declaration: first you declare your intended marriage at the municipality where one of you lives; the wedding can then take place no sooner than 14 days and no later than 6 months after the declaration.
• Living abroad: if neither of you lives in Belgium, first ask the municipality of Oostende whether a wedding is possible there and which documents are needed.
• Venue and date: the municipality will inform you about wedding venues, available dates and costs.
• Contact: https://www.oostende.be/

A traveller with a disability or impairment will find carefully collected information at the Info Point about the accessibility of various holiday destinations. Here you will find this information:

- https://www.toegankelijkreizen.be/
- https://www.westkans.be/