Family Fun in Ostend: 12 Kid-Friendly Activities on Belgium's Coast

Ostend's main beach stretches over 9 kilometers, offering a magnificent playground for families. Unlike many European beaches that charge for access, Ostend's sandy shores are free and meticulously maintained. The gentle slope into the water creates a safe wading environment for younger children, though do note the North Sea remains refreshingly brisk even in summer months!

What impressed me most was the thoughtful infrastructure for families. Beach cabins (called 'strandcabines') can be rented for the day, providing a home base for your beach adventures. My niece and nephew particularly enjoyed the supervised play areas where trained staff lead games and activities throughout summer days.

For more active families, try beach volleyball or the designated water sports zones where older kids can try windsurfing with proper instruction. My nephew, typically glued to his tablet, spent three hours straight building elaborate sand fortifications with new friends – a testament to the simple joy of beach play.

As a language instructor in my former life, I'm always looking for educational experiences that don't feel like school. Ostend delivers brilliantly with its maritime museums that captivate young imaginations.

The absolute standout is the Mercator ship museum – a restored three-masted sailing vessel that once served as Belgium's training ship. Unlike many museums with 'look but don't touch' policies, the Mercator encourages exploration. My niece and nephew scrambled up and down narrow staircases, peered through portholes, and pretended to navigate from the wheelhouse. The audio guides are available in multiple languages with special kid-friendly versions that tell stories rather than just listing facts.

Nearby, the North Sea Aquarium (Noordzeeaquarium) may be compact, but it showcases local marine life with excellent interactive displays. The touch pools were a particular hit with my nephew, who couldn't believe he was allowed to gently handle starfish and feel the texture of various shells.

For rainy days (which do happen, even in summer), I recommend the waterproof family backpack that kept our snacks and spare clothes perfectly dry during an unexpected downpour between museum visits.

One of Belgium's greatest family-friendly features is its exceptional cycling infrastructure, and Ostend showcases this perfectly. The coastal cycling path (Kustfietsroute) runs the entire length of the Belgian coast, with Ostend serving as an ideal starting point for shorter family excursions.

Renting bikes in Ostend is straightforward, with numerous shops offering everything from standard cycles to family tandems and child trailers. My personal recommendation is Cycle Center near the train station, where the staff took extra time to ensure proper bike fitting for my niece and nephew.

Our favorite family route was the gentle 7km ride to the charming village of Mariakerke, with dedicated bike lanes the entire way and plenty of spots to stop for ice cream or to watch boats entering the harbor. For families with younger children, I suggest the child bike seat which several rental shops offer as an add-on.

When cycling with kids in Ostend, remember that Belgian cyclists take their rules seriously – stay in designated lanes, signal your turns, and teach children basic cycling etiquette before setting out. The reward is a wonderful sense of freedom and the ability to cover more ground than you would on foot.

Belgian weather can be unpredictable, so having indoor backup plans is essential for family trips. Fortunately, Ostend offers plenty of options for those inevitable rainy afternoons.

Earth Explorer Center tops my list for families with curious minds. This interactive science museum focuses on our planet's ecosystems with hands-on exhibits that kept my niece engaged for hours. The 4D simulator that takes you on a journey through extreme weather events was the highlight – educational and thrilling simultaneously.

For more active indoor fun, Magic Park is an enormous indoor playground with separate zones for different age groups. While my nephew conquered the climbing walls and obstacle courses, my niece discovered the arts and crafts corner. Parents can relax in the café area with surprisingly decent coffee while maintaining sight lines to most play areas.

On particularly stormy days, we found sanctuary at the Kinepolis cinema, which regularly screens family films in their original language (often English) with Dutch/French subtitles. Before heading out for potentially wet days, I recommend packing the quick-dry family towel set which proved invaluable for drying off between attractions.

One unexpected indoor gem was the local library (Bibliotheek Oostende) which hosts English-language story hours during summer months and has a wonderful children's section with international books.

No visit to Belgium is complete without indulging in its famous cuisine, and Ostend offers plenty of kid-friendly options that go beyond typical children's menus.

Waffles are, of course, a must-try, and I recommend bypassing the tourist traps for Tearoom Caruso on Adolf Buylstraat. Their Liège waffles are authentically dense and sweet with caramelized sugar pearls, and they offer a 'make your own waffle' experience where kids can add their own toppings – my niece created a masterpiece with strawberries and chocolate that still makes her eyes light up when mentioned.

For a proper meal, 't Bourgoensche Hof serves traditional Belgian cuisine with a children's menu that doesn't insult young taste buds. Their waterzooi (creamy chicken or fish stew) comes in child-sized portions, and the staff happily explained ingredients to my curious nephew who has recently declared himself a 'food explorer.'

Belgian fries deserve their own mention – the best in Ostend come from Frituur Franky near the Visserskaai. The ritual of eating fries from a paper cone with a tiny fork while watching harbor activity became our evening tradition. For picnic supplies, the Wednesday and Saturday morning market at Wapenplein offers local cheeses, breads, and fruits perfect for beach days.

For families with multiple dietary needs, I found the collapsible food containers invaluable for storing snacks and picnic leftovers in our rental apartment.