Beaufort Triennial and Bruges Triennial
Art along the Belgian coast and in Bruges
Once every three years, you can enjoy an art exhibition along the Belgian coast. Beaufort - Triennial by the Sea presents 18 new works of art. It is a special open-air exhibition along the 67 km coastline of Belgium, from De Panne to Knokke-Heist.
In Bruges, there is Bruges Triennial 'Spaces of Possibility' where artists give their take on the question: how can a historic city deal with change and sustainability and what can the role of contemporary art and architecture be therein?
Throughout the city, you can see modern art to marvel and wonder at.
Beaufort24, Art on the coast
From 27 March to 3 November, you can see 18 new artworks on a long route along the coast. 42 sculptures have remained from previous triennials, bringing the total to 50 artworks.
At several tourist offices, you can get free route maps: cycling routes and maps with walks which indicate where to find which sculpture. We recommend not only following that route but also to explore the villages or its surroundings. Blankenberge, for example, has the beautiful Belle Epoque neighbourhood close to the information centre. The Belle Epoque centre is open in the afternoon. Similarly, the other coastal towns have many other attractions. Such as a cute lighthouse in De Haan and the Residence Palace in Zeebrugge.
James Ensor in Ostend
Ostend is bursting with art this year. The city was the hometown of artist James Ensor, who died 75 years ago. In addition to the Beaufort24 Triennial, this entire year is filled with exhibitions in Oostende.
The first artwork you will see as you leave Ostend station on foot is a 4-metres high portrait of artist's head made of straw. In almost 30 restaurants you can order dishes inspired by Ensor. As of 28 September, Ensor will 'move' to Antwerp, with several exhibitions. Of course, there is still plenty to see in Ostend, such as the house where he lived and worked, the James Ensor house.
Tips for a day in Ostend
Transportation to and along the coast
Train and tram
You can take the train to Knokke, Blankenberge, Ostend and De Panne. The Coastal Tram departs from these stations and stops at 67 places along the coast. You can buy a day ticket from a vending machine at the tram stop. The tram runs all year round. With an extra cycle ticket, you can also bring your bicycle. It is very special to cycle past the dunes. It will make you long for a coastal tram of Scheveningen to Den Helder.
Bike
The before-mentioned stations all have Blue-bikes, the 'Belgiand public transport bike'. Remember to sign up for that first and to bring your Blue-bike card with you. Some stations have bikes with digital locks, others still have bikes with 'old-fashioned' locks.
You can also bring your own bike on the train. You will first need to buy bike ticket and in the summer you must also make a reservation.
At the coast during bad weather
There is plenty to do even when it is cold and rainy. The villages have nice shopping streets where most businesses are open even on Sundays. In De Panne you will find the amusement park Plopsaland with Mega Mindy and the other Studio 100 stars. There are cinemas and swimming pools in almost every village and in Ostend there is a large hall with trampolines.
Hotels and restaurants in Ostend
We recommend Hotel Burlington, Kapellestraat 90 in Ostend. The staff is immensely friendly, the rooms are comfortable and the breakfast very extensive. Indulge yourself!
More hotels along the Belgian coast
A special place to eat is the Brasserie Albert restaurant in Ostend. It has an art deco interior and stunning views across the sea. A great place to enjoy the sunset. The menu features mainly fish and meat dishes.
More restaurants along the Belgian coast
Museums Bruges
You get the best deal if you purchase a Musea Brugge Card. It will give you access to all museums for 72 hours.
Other things to do in Bruges
Transportation to and in Bruges
Train
You can easily take the train to Bruges. From Amsterdam, you only need to change trains once. When booking, choose Brugge (Centraal) station. Within 15 minutes, you can walk from the station to the city centre.
Bike
In Bruges you can also get Blue-bikes at the station. If you are not a member, you can also rent bikes at other locations in the city.
Cycling in Bruges
Hotels and restaurants in Bruges
Bruges is bursting with hotels and restaurants. Finding a tasty place to eat is not difficult but we will gladly lend you a hand to find the right place.
We recommend Hotel Portinari, 't Zand 15, in the heart of the city. It is located near the lively café De Zandloper. A tip for breakfast and lunch is Juliette, Dweersstraat 15. You can eat a tasty meal at Grand Café De Republiek, Sint-Jakobsstraat 36. The café has a varied menu including vegan and veggie dishes and a pretty indoor garden. The staff is very friendly.
Want to book another weekend or week
After visiting these exhibitions, you will no doubt think: this visit was too short. There is so much more to see, besides these exhibitions!
Our tip: plan another week to visit and experience the region and its museums at leisure. Grab a bike and explore the outskirts of Bruges. Or take a long walk along the coast. There is so much to see and by train you can get there in no time at all!
Walking route Oostende
Walk along grassy paths by numerous creeks and winding trails through small woods. Enjoy the polders and visit the charming village of Zandvoorde with its village pub.
Museums in Bruges
Old Bruges' most enjoyable and educational museums.
Train to Belgian coast
Want to take the train to a pleasant seaside town? It's definitely worth the visit!
Cycling in Bruges
Cycling in Bruges is an adventure! The historic city centre is beautiful and parts of it is car-free.
Walking tours Bruges
Explore enchanting Bruges on foot. With a guide or with our free walking route.
Restaurants in Bruges
The tastiest places in Bruges to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.