Editing Ostend (section)

==Sights==
Ostend is known for its sea-side esplanade, including the [[Royal Galleries of Ostend]], pier, and fine-sand beaches. Ostend is visited by many day-trippers heading to the beaches, especially during July and August. Tourists from inland Belgium and from abroad mostly arrive by train (day trips) and head for the closest beach area, the ''Klein Strand'', located next to the pier. The locals and other residents in Belgium usually occupy the larger beach (het Groot Strand).

Near the beach is a well-preserved section of the fortified [[Atlantic Wall]], open to the public as the [[Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum]] located in [[Raversijde]]. One can walk through the streets around ''Het Vissersplein''. At certain times, there are markets in the neighbourhood streets and in the summer the ''Vissersplein'' has music festivals. The ''Vissersplein'' (''Bonenstraat''/''Kadzandstraat'') is a car free zone with many brasseries where patrons can sit outside and have a drink. Towards the port side there are many little fish outlets, and beyond that the ferries can be observed docking.

Notable sites include:

* the [[Casino]] and Fort Napoleon
* [[Oostende railway station]]
* The ''[[Mercator (ship)|Mercator]]'', the ex–training sailing ship for Belgian merchant navy officers, now open to the public to view
* [[Hippodrome Wellington]], [[horse racing]] venue
* [[St Petrus and St Paulus Church, Ostend]] (''[[Sint-Petrus-en-Pauluskerk]]''), built in [[Neo Gothic]] style
* [[King Leopold II statue (Ostend)|King Leopold II statue]]
*Synagoge Oostende

{{wide image|Oostende panoramic view.jpg|1200px|Ostend beach and the promenade pier – panoramic view}}