transport & travel
By Car
The E40 motorway connects Brussels with Oostende. In 90 minutes you will drive from Brussels to Oostende by car or by bus.
You will reach Oostende from Antwerp by taking the E17 that will lead you to the E40 to Oostende.
Train
The train stops in the centre of Oostende and offers a lot of direct connections from and to the midland. The Thalys will take you in 1.30 hour from Parijs and in 2:00 hours from Amsterdam to Oostende. For a schedule : www.nmbs.be
The coastal tram
The tram is undoubtedly the fastest and easiest means of transport at the Belgian coast. In summer time, a tram passes every 10 minutes. From September till the 5th of November, during the Christmas and crocus holidays and from Easter till the end of June the tram passes every 15 minutes. From the 5th of November the tram passes every 20 minutes.
From now on, the coastal tram drives between De Panne and Knokke till 0:30.
Going by tram is very often the most profitable means of transport.
Bus services
For all information about bus services, please contact De Lijn: (+32)70/220.220 or www.delijn.be
Boat
Trans Europa Ferries: Trans Europa Ferries organises a passenger service (only with car) between Oostende and Ramsgate. This transfer takes about 4 hours.
For all information: www.transeuropaferries.com
The port of Oostende
The port of Oostende can count on a tradition of more than 150 years of handling passengers and cars. In 1946 the first official connection between Oostende and Dover became reality.
- Central position in Europe
- Cruise port: new cruise quay next to the railway station with a multifunctional passengers terminal
- Ro-Ro port: 4 ro-ro berths near the sea
- General cargo: two fully equipped quays and the canal Oostende-Bruges with industrial area
- International airport Oostende: at less than 6 km from the port
- Railway station: next to the cruise and car ferry terminal with a Thalys fast line connection to Paris
- International freeway A10 - E40
- Oostende is a holiday destination with 9 km of sandy beaches and many curiosities
Models of the ships, posters and other items referring to the former Oostende-Dover connection, can be found in the historical museum 'De Plate'.
For more information about the port of Oostende and its commercial activities, please visit: www.portofoostende.be
Airport
The airport of Oostende, at a few minutes by car from the city center, is in full expansion. Besides charters, private jets are welcome here too.
For more information, please contact:
Internationale Luchthaven Oostende-Brugge
Nieuwpoortsesteenweg 889, B-8400 Oostende
Tel: +32 (059)55.12.11 - Fax: +32 (59)51.32.51
E-mail: airport.authority@ostendairport.be