Frequently asked questions about the beach in Ostend

Yes, in Ostend you can borrow a beach wheelchair for free in summer.

• Zon, Zee… Zorgeloos: free beach wheelchairs and help from assistants, mid-June to mid-September, daily from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm; tel. +32 491 50 54 33.
• Where: at the Diksmuidestraat.
• Fietspunt: at the station (Natiënkaai 1) an electric beach wheelchair can be rented outside the season, tel. +32 59 61 05 04.
• Use: you need someone to push, except with electric chairs.
• More information: overview of accessible beach facilities on the coast (Inter, in Dutch).

Yes, at beach bars and beach equipment rental points in Ostend you can rent sunbeds, beach chairs, parasols and windbreaks by the day.

• Booking: usually you rent on the spot; on busy summer days it helps to arrive early or book ahead.

No, as in all Belgian coastal municipalities, lighting a fire on the beach in Ostend is forbidden unless the municipality gives permission in advance.

• Barbecue: barbecues on the beach are not allowed without permission either.
• Permission: apply in good time to the municipality of Ostend.

Yes, Ostend has an accessible Zon, Zee… Zorgeloos beach in summer.

• What is offered: free beach wheelchairs, an adapted toilet and care room, a paved path onto the beach and assistants who help with transfers, changing and toilet visits.
• When: mid-June to mid-September, daily from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm.
• Where: at the Diksmuidestraat.
• Contact: tel. +32 491 50 54 33; booking is possible but not required.
• Please note: the assistants are not nurses and do not provide intimate care.
• More information: overview of accessible beach facilities on the coast (Inter, in Dutch).

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[Answer in Dutch]

BVBA Hugo en Marc Vandevelde
Nieuwpoortsesteenweg 329
T 059/51.35.45
GSM Marc: 0497/61.61.56, tussen 15.30 uur en 17.30 uur
mail. info@strandoostende.be
web. https://www.strandoostende.be/

BVBA Michel Blanckaert
Woudweg naar Zedelgem 18
8490 Snellegem
T 050/ 81.34.94
GSM 0498/10.31.63,
mail. michel@dezeehut.be
web. https://www.dezeehut.be/

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award, granted annually to beaches and marinas that participate in the campaign and have proven to be clean and safe.

The goal of the Blue Flag programme is to continuously involve governments, entrepreneurs, and recreational users in the care for clean and safe water, beautiful nature, and a healthy environment. Holding a Blue Flag is a recognition of the efforts made by the beach municipality or marina operator in this area. For tourists, the Blue Flag is internationally the recognition and quality symbol for good beaches and marinas.

What are the criteria for the beaches?

• The bathing water is of excellent quality.
• The beach is kept clean.
• There are enough toilets and waste bins on the beach.
• Rescue materials and a first aid post are available on the beach.
• Information activities are organized to protect the natural environment of the sea, beach, and dunes.

More information: https://www.blauwevlag.nl/

Yes, several beaches in Ostend have free outdoor showers in season.

• Including: Oosthelling, Kursaal.
• Season: the beach showers are in place from early May to late September.

No, Ostend has no naturist beach; the only official naturist beach in Belgium is in Bredene.

• Where: on the beach of Bredene, on the border with De Haan.

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Only in June and September, and only with a permit from the City of Ostend.

• Conditions: no more than one barbecue per weekend, not a commercial event, follow police and fire service instructions, reusable cups.
• Clean-up: the beach must be cleared by 10 am the next day; the applicant pays any cleaning costs.
• Rest of the year: fires and barbecues on the beach are prohibited.

• Dogs are prohibited on the beaches of Oostende during the period from Easter vacation till 1 October.
• Outside of the above mentioned period are dogs allowed (both loose and leased) on the beaches of Oostende.

Further, we also recommend reading the information board, with the local beach rules, which is often placed near every beach (entrance).

Nearest beach for dogs at Oostende

Leashed dogs are allowed all year:

• from beach Halvemaandijk in the direction Bredene;
• from beach Westlaan in the direction Middelkerke.

All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://oostende.org/en/horseback-riding.php

Current information on bathing water quality on the coast near Ostend is available from the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) (in Dutch).

• Bathing season: in summer the VMM and the Departement Zorg regularly test the water in the bathing zones along the coast.
• Swimming: preferably swim in a supervised zone and follow the flags and instructions of the lifeguards.

It's allowed to fish from the Oostelijke strekdam in Oostende. On this dam fishing is allowed all year.

More info: https://www.oostende.be/visvergunning

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In Ostend water sports clubs and surf schools offer surfing, kitesurfing, sailing and kayaking, among others; see our surfing page for an overview.

• Please note: water sports are only allowed outside the swimming zones, in the designated areas.

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Most shops, beach clubs, bars, terraces and restaurants remain open during the weekends in the low season. Many are also open throughout the week.

Each year the low season in Ostend begins after the autumn holidays till the beginning of the spring holidays. Several shops, beach clubs and restaurants use this period to rebuild, renew or for vacation. As a result, during this low season period, not all stores are opened every day.

Furthermore there is no general period when all the restaurants, bars and shops are closed. All entrepreneurs determine the temporary closure individually. Therefore is there are, also in the low season, enough shops and restaurants opened for you to enjoy.

Yes, the beach in Ostend is free to access.

• Costs: for example parking and renting a sunbed, windbreak or beach cabin.