Where is the train station in Ostend?
The railway station of Ostend is on the Natiënkaai, right by the marina and about a 10-minute walk from the centre and the beach.
- Trains: hourly direct trains via Bruges and Ghent to Brussels, Leuven, Liège and Eupen, hourly via Ghent and Sint-Niklaas to Antwerp, and hourly via Kortrijk to Brussels and Brussels Airport.
- Summer: in July and August extra trains run to the coast (the Kust-Express); on some summer weekends an ICE also runs from Cologne via Aachen and Brussels to Ostend.
- Tram and bus: the Coast Tram (Kusttram) stops next to the station, and De Lijn buses leave from here.
- Journey time: about 15 minutes from Bruges, about 40 minutes from Ghent, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Brussels and about 1.5 hours from Antwerp. From the Netherlands, travel to Antwerp and take the direct train from there.
- Journey planner: current times are on belgiantrain.be and in the NMBS/SNCB app.
How do you travel to Ostend by public transport?
The train takes you straight to Ostend from Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges, among others, and from the station the Coast Tram (Kusttram) runs along the entire coast.
- Train: direct trains from Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Kortrijk and Brussels Airport.
- Coast Tram: in town the tram stops at the station, on Marie-Joséplein near the centre, on Koninginnelaan and at the racecourse, among other places; across the harbour it stops at the Vismijn. In summer the tram runs about every 10 minutes, the rest of the year usually every 15 to 20 minutes and less often in the evening; it takes about an hour to Knokke-Heist and also about an hour to De Panne.
- Bus: De Lijn city and regional buses leave from the station.
- Paying on De Lijn: on the tram and bus, hold your debit card, credit card or smartphone against the white reader; contactless payment also works with foreign cards. You only tap in, not out. You can also buy a ticket in advance in the De Lijn app.
- Works on the tram: in 2026 and 2027 De Lijn is renewing tracks and stops in and around Ostend. The tram may run more slowly or use a temporary stop, and some journeys (mainly in the evening) are replaced by buses. Check De Lijn before you travel.
- Journey planner: train times on belgiantrain.be, trams and buses on delijn.be.
How do you get to Ostend by car?
Ostend lies at the end of the E40 (A10) and can be reached directly by motorway from Brussels, Ghent and Bruges.
- From Brussels and Ghent: follow the E40 (A10) to its end; the motorway leads straight into Ostend.
- From Antwerp and the Netherlands: take the E17 to Ghent and then the E40; from Rotterdam and Amsterdam drive via Antwerp.
- From Germany: the E40 runs from Aachen via Liège and Brussels all the way to Ostend.
- From northern France: from Lille via Dunkirk (A18 and E40) or via Kortrijk (A17) and Bruges.
- Driving time without traffic: Bruges about 25 minutes, Ghent about 50 minutes, Brussels and Antwerp about 1 hour 15 minutes, Lille about 1 hour, Rotterdam about 2 hours 15 minutes, Cologne about 3.5 hours.
- On arrival: parking is paid in the centre and along the seafront and scarce on busy days. There are free car parks on the edge of town, including at the Maria Hendrikapark and on the Oosteroever.
Can you cycle to Ostend?
Yes, Ostend lies on the coastal cycle route, and from Bruges you can ride here along a quiet towpath.
- From Bruges: about 25 kilometres along the Bruges-Ostend canal, almost free of traffic.
- Along the coast: east to Bredene and De Haan, west via Mariakerke to Middelkerke.
- Ferry: a free ferry runs between the Visserskaai and the Oosteroever; bikes are allowed.
- Coastal cycle route: the coast route (part of EuroVelo 12) runs along the entire Belgian coast, with a dense network of cycle junctions.
- Bikes on the train: on NMBS trains you buy a bike supplement in advance; folding bikes travel free. On the Coast Tram a bike is allowed if there is space, with a separate De Lijn bike ticket. On summer days trains and trams are often too full.
- Bike rental: Ostend has several bike rental shops.