What is the nearest train station in Westende?
The nearest train station is Ostend station (Station Oostende) in Ostend, about 12 kilometres from Westende.
- Station: the station is by the harbour, close to the centre of Ostend; the Coast Tram and De Lijn buses leave right next to the station.
- Trains: direct intercity trains run from Brussels via Ghent and Bruges (about 1 hour 15 minutes), from Antwerp (about 1.5 hours) and from Brussels Airport, among others.
- From abroad: from Paris and Cologne take the high-speed train to Brussels-South (Midi) and change there; from Lille travel via Kortrijk, and from the Netherlands usually via Antwerp.
- On to Westende: take the Coast Tram towards De Panne, which gets you there in about 30 minutes; see also by public transport.
- Journey planner: current train, tram and bus times are on belgiantrain.be and delijn.be.
How do you travel to Westende by public transport?
Take the train to Ostend and then the Coast Tram towards De Panne, which reaches Westende in about 30 minutes.
- Coast Tram: it runs every 10 to 20 minutes during the day depending on the season, and about every 30 minutes in the evening. The tram travels via Middelkerke and stops in Westende close to the promenade, then continues via Lombardsijde to Nieuwpoort and De Panne.
- Bus 60a: runs from Ostend station via the airport, Middelkerke, Westende, Nieuwpoort, Oostduinkerke and Koksijde to Veurne; in Westende the bus stops in the village.
- De Lijn Flex: parts of Westende are served by De Lijn's on-demand flex bus; book in advance with De Lijn. delijn.be shows which stops are included.
- Tickets: buy a ticket or day pass in advance in the De Lijn app, at a Lijnwinkel (De Lijn shop) or at a ticket machine; with a day pass you can hop on and off along the whole coast.
- Works: De Lijn is renewing the Coast Tram tracks in phases over the coming years. During works some stops may be closed temporarily or replacement buses may run; check delijn.be before you travel.
How do you get to Westende by car?
You reach Westende via the E40 to the coast and then the A18 towards Veurne and Dunkirk; take exit 4 Middelkerke or exit 3 Nieuwpoort.
- From Brussels and Ghent: follow the E40 via Ghent and at Jabbeke stay on the E40 (A18) towards Veurne and Dunkirk; straight on, the A10 goes to Ostend.
- From Antwerp and the Netherlands: take the E17 to Ghent and then the E40. From Zeeland, drive through the Westerscheldetunnel, toll free for cars, motorhomes and motorcycles since 30 December 2024, and via Bruges to the E40.
- From France: from Lille take the A25 to Dunkirk and then the A16, which becomes the A18 at the border; from Paris take the A1 and the A25.
- From Germany: from Cologne and the Ruhr via Aachen, Liège and Brussels (E40) or via Antwerp.
- Driving time without traffic: Ghent about 1 hour, Brussels and Antwerp about 1.5 hours, Lille about 1 hour 15 minutes, Rotterdam about 2.5 hours, Paris about 3 hours 15 minutes and Cologne about 3 hours 45 minutes.
- On arrival: between the resorts you drive along the Koninklijke Baan (N34); parking near the promenade is usually paid, see parking for car parks.
Can you cycle to Westende?
Yes, from Ostend station you can cycle along the coast to Westende in about 45 minutes.
- Route: from the station you ride via Mariakerke, Raversijde and Middelkerke on the cycle path along the Koninklijke Baan; the cycle junctions (knooppunten) also show a quieter route through the polders.
- Along the coast: the cycle route along the Belgian coast links Westende with every resort from Knokke-Heist to De Panne; via Lombardsijde you are soon in Nieuwpoort.
- Bikes on the train: on NMBS/SNCB trains you buy a bike supplement in advance; folding bikes travel free. Bike spaces are limited, especially on summer days towards the coast.
- Bikes on the tram: you can take your bike on the Coast Tram if there is room, with a separate bike ticket; on regular De Lijn buses only folding bikes are allowed.
- Bike rental: Westende itself has several bike rental shops and cycle routes.