Blankenberge: History, Pier and Polder Landscape

Blankenberge combines the history of a seaside resort with maritime architecture, museums and landscapes for walking. If you are looking for a hotel, you can consider whether you are particularly interested in cultural history, nature or leisure activities. The town’s sights and paths offer a range of ways to explore these themes.

Belle Époque and Maritime Heritage

During the Belle Époque, Blankenberge developed into an important seaside town, with major building projects accompanying the rise of tourism. The Belle Epoque Centrum presents the period from 1870 to 1914, its heyday. The 3.9-kilometre Erfgoedwandelroute Blankenberge starts at the centre and passes well-preserved holiday homes built for wealthy citizens. The walk combines a manageable distance with an insight into the architecture of the resort at the time.

Another urban historical walk, “Blankenberge: het verhaal,” covers about 10 kilometres through Blankenberge and Uitkerke and takes approximately three hours. It is therefore longer than the Erfgoedwandelroute. Check in advance whether the digital tour is available.

The piers also tell the story of the town’s development. Blankenberge’s first pier was built in 1893 and was the only one on mainland Europe at the time. The 350-metre-long Belgium Pier extends out into the sea, is considered an exceptional structure and is part of Belgium’s national heritage. It offers views of the coast and sea. A concrete pier built in 1933 was fully renovated between 2021 and 2023 according to the original plans.

The Oud Stadhuis dates from 1680 and was built in the Flemish Renaissance style. It is the oldest surviving civic building in Blankenberge and is currently used as an exhibition hall. Check access arrangements before visiting. In Breydelstraat, the low fishermen’s houses at numbers 10 and 27 are protected monuments. Other notable structures include the Paravang from the Belle Époque, designed in the neo-Gothic style with exotic influences, and the concrete lighthouse from 1951, whose style recalls the interwar period. St.-Rochuskerk is a Neo-Romanesque seasonal church with 1,800 seats.

The Maritiem Scutemuseum is dedicated to Blankenberge’s fishing industry in past centuries. Exhibits include objects, drawings, photographs and DVDs; another topic is the reconstruction of the legendary Blankenbergse schuit. The Huisje van Majutte, a typical fishermen’s house from the late 18th century, is now a restaurant-café. Shrimp croquettes made from an old family recipe were served there. Offerings and opening hours may change; check them before your visit.

Polders, Dunes and Forest

The Uitkerkse Polder is an open, centuries-old grazing landscape between Blankenberge and De Haan, suitable for walking. Thousands of barnacle geese overwinter there every year. Guided visits to the nature areas are also available for groups; if you are planning a guided visit, check availability in advance. The Kievitspad has an activity trail for children with ten stations and special tasks.

De Fonteintjes offers a different kind of landscape: a dune nature area between Blankenberge and Zeebrugge. Its features include dune ponds, dune scrub and moist dune valleys. The 41-hectare Zeebos, a provincial forest area, is also located between Blankenberge and Zeebrugge. Short and longer walks are possible there; the area also has a play forest, recreation meadows and an adventure playground. This gives you a choice of different nature experiences: open grazing land, dune habitats and woodland.

Leisure and Beach Access

SEA LIFE Blankenberge has more than 50 aquariums with over 2,500 animals. It also has a seal hospital, where seals that are taken in receive care before being released back into the sea. Leopoldpark has a traditional 18-hole miniature golf course and three outdoor tennis courts for singles and doubles.

Beachclub Blankenberge offers surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding, as well as bodyboarding, skimboarding, beach kiting, kayaking and rafting. Availability and seasonal operations may change; if interested, check the current offerings in advance.

Wheelchair users can reach the beach via paved access paths next to Charlierhelling and at Van Praethelling. As the condition of the infrastructure may change, it is advisable to check the access conditions before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Diksmuide, Harelbeke, Vleteren, Beernem, Middelkerke, Knokke-Heist, Staden, Ichtegem.

For the broader travel overview: West Flanders.