Agenda

Full calendar

James Ensor: self-portraits

Thu 21 Mar 2024 to Sun 16 Jun 2024
Self-portraiture is of essential importance in Ensor's work and holds a special place within his body of work. The first three known painted self-portraits by James Ensor date back to 1879. Undoubtedly, his most famous self-portrait is "Self-portrait with Flowered Hat" (Mu.ZEE, Ostend), painted in…

Ensor 1940

Atlantikwall Raversyde
Sat 9 Mar 2024 to Mon 11 Nov 2024
On the night of 27-28 May 1940, Ostend Town Hall was bombed. Three paintings and numerous etchings by Ensor are lost. Lost forever. Because in the archives, only some vague images remain. Were they also masterpieces? Did they add anything to the Ensor we know? At the request of conceptual artist…

Elle adore le noir

Tue 26 Mar 2024 to Sat 21 Sep 2024
During the Ensor Year, embark on an artistic quest through 40 shop windows of Oostendse traders. By bike or on foot! Along this route, you'll discover artworks created by Oostendse artists inspired by Ensor. For children, there's a grand puzzle game, and if they find the solution, they can collect…

Ostend, Ensor's imaginary paradise

Venetiaanse Gaanderijen
Sat 29 Jun 2024 to Sun 27 Oct 2024
Discover the unique connection between James Ensor and his birthplace Ostend in the surprising exhibition 'Ostend, Ensor's imaginary paradise' at the Venetian Galleries. As Ostend developed as a tourist and cultural destination to become the Queen of seaside towns, Ensor developed his artistic…

James Ensor: Satire, parody, pastiche

Thu 19 Sep 2024 to Sun 12 Jan 2025
The body of work of James Ensor is characterized by humor and satire. Various works attest to his talent for paraphrasing themes or specific works of other artists. Some works result in parodies or pastiches, and stand out with humor, criticism, and/or caricature. He does not hesitate to denounce…

Great Art for Great Kids - James Ensor

Fort Napoleon
Sat 16 Dec 2023 to Sun 12 May 2024
On the occasion of the Ensor Year, Thaïs Vanderheyden transformed several iconic paintings by grandmaster James Ensor into works of art tailored to kids. Discover them at the interactive exhibition in Fort Napoleon.…

Arno. The Show of Life

Venetiaanse Gaanderijen
Tue 19 Dec 2023 to Tue 21 May 2024
Tussen 19 december 2023 en 21 mei 2024 ontdek je in de Venetiaanse Gaanderijen het ultieme eerbetoon aan Arno.

The Crystal Ship 2024

Mon 25 Mar 2024 to Sun 14 Apr 2024
In spring 2024, world-renowned and renowned artists, giant murals and interventions will once again pop up in Ostend. The Crystal Ship will welcome a dozen new artists during the Easter holidays, further expanding the street art trail in the City by the Sea. With a free cycling or walking plan, an…

UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup 2024

Thu 2 May 2024 to Sun 5 May 2024
Every year five world cup competitions para-cycling are held worldwide. The first races in Ostend are the largest in the series. Para-cycling is the fastest growing paralympic discipline in Belgium. The UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup is the most important competition after the World Cup and the…

Ostend at Anchor 2024

Haven Oostende
Thu 23 May 2024 to Sun 26 May 2024
Ostend at Anchor is the must-attend event for all who are interested in maritime history. More than 150 ships set sail for Ostend: from three- masters to inland barges to the smallest clinker-built longboats. The streets and squares around the docks are buzzing with activity. Learn more about old…

Expo 'In the shadow of the master, contemporaries of Ensor'

Stadsmuseum
Sat 15 Jun 2024 to Tue 31 Dec 2024
Ensor was a loner, but not alone. Besides the grand master himself, other artists worked and exhibited in Ostend. After all, the city by the sea has always attracted countless artists who, either occasionally or sometimes for a longer period, stayed in Ostend to work or to settle there permanently…

TikTokTour

Ostend has its own TikTokTour now! This crazy TikTok tour takes you to ten highlights of our lovely City by the Sea where you can recreate fun TikTok videos. Get your free TikTokTour at the Ostend Tourist Information Centre or download the tour at www.tiktokoostende.be.

Ostend City Museum

The museum tells you Ostend’s fascinating life story and also casts light on its future. A host of objects, posters, documents and multimedia applications reveal the secrets behind the development of the city, its tourism, fishing industry and shipping. Discover the Ostend of former times and the…

Hangtime

1,000 square metres of trampolines, a huge ball bath, and a challenging play area for the little ones, all connected by an inspiring coffee bar: that is the definition of Hangtime! In addition to the trampolines, we offer heaps of extras: basketball hoops, dodgeball trampolines, foam pits—the list…

Provincial domain Atlantikwall Raversyde

The Provincial Domain Atlantikwall Raversyde is a unique natural area located close to the sea. A diverse landscape invites visitors to a lovely walk. Raversijde is also a home to a rescue centre for birds and wild animals (VOC). Go On Time Travel (+6) in the provincial domain Atlantikwall…

Ensor walk

Download the app and take the brand-new Ensor-themed walk to visit all the locations that were significant to the life and work of James Ensor. You will be given information and will be able to see things for yourself at each of these places, using the latest high-tech. Young and older Ensor fans…

The Crystal Ship - Street Art in Ostend

Discover “The Crystal Ship” in Ostend: renowned and world-famous artists make enormous paintings on walls as well as fantastic art installations in open spaces.

Skatebowl De Velodroom

The Velodrome is more than just a mega cool skate spot, there is also plenty of room to chill out in the grass. Besides the skate bowl, there is also a graffiti zone. The Velodrome is the place to be if you ask us. Sweet lines, soft curves, sturdy, a beautiful whole and a great challenge!…

City Golf Oostende

Discover the secrets of Ostend in a playful manner. Play City Golf on 6 or 9 different locations and make a beautiful city tour through the beautiful city of Ostend. Let yourself be guided by an enthusiastic team and experience the inner city of Ostend in an original way. During the tour the guides…

Hoevewinkel 't Buitenbeentje

The farm shop 't Buitenbeentje offers a daily fresh supply of organic vegetables; fruit and eggs straight from the field of the Biopluktuin in the agricultural park the Tuinen van Stene, or from our fellow organic farmers via BioBrugsOmmeland. This is how we deliberately keep the food chain short.

Lighthouse Lange Nelle

Lighthouse "Lange Nelle" : The famous lighthouse is the fourth one in the history of Oostende and the third one on this location. It was built between 1947 and 1949, rises 65 metres above the sea and guides the fishermen safely in the Ostend harbour. The lighthouse is not open to the public.

Venetian Galleries

In 1900, Belgian King Leopold II commissioned architect Henri Maquet to design the first royal gallery: an L-shaped, closed and covered walkway between the royal villa and a large octagonal salon. Nowadays it is known by the name ‘Venetian Galleries’, referring to Venice’s classicist architecture…

Le Châtelet

Iconic, eclectic corner building at the Petit Paris intersection. Was built in the western city extension completed after 1865 under the impetus of King Leopold II. Frivolous architecture from the belle époque and a unique witness to holiday architecture from the era of fashionable and elitist…

Railway station Oostende

Eclectic station complex consisting of a central entrance hall flanked by two square "Tower buildings". On the left side adjacent to the station the former "Hotel Terminus Maritime".