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Blankenberge is the most popular sea-side resort in Belgium. It is very popular among day-trippers because it can be reached very easily from the center of the country by train. From the train station you can reach the beach after a short walking tour of 10 minutes through the main pedestrian shopping street of the city. The beach is about 3.3 Km long and 350 m wide at ebb-tide. Every 200 m there is a breakwater alongside the beach. Already in the 18th century Blankenberge was the favorite seaside-resort for the people of Bruges. The first hotels were built around 1850. In 1871 even the German 'Kaiser' came to Blankenberge to relax after the war against France.

The eye-catcher on the Blankenberge sea-side is the 'Pier'. This walking bridge stretches 350 m long into the sea and was built in 1894. Demolished in 1914 during the First World War it was rebuilt in 1931-1933. The first pier was made of cast iron. The present pier (from 1931) was built in concrete. At the end of the pier is the 'Pavilion' where the 'Aquarama' can be visited. The Aquarama is an exhibition about the fauna and flora of the North Sea.

The coastline of Blankenberge is typical for most of the Belgian coastal cities in that there is a (perhaps esthetically not very attractive) wall of apartments. Nevertheless, the beach is large enough for families to let their children play at heart's delight in the fine sand . The sand at the Belgian beaches ranks among the finest in the world.

On the beach-side, almost directly in the center of Blankenberge rises the Casino. It stands on the site where Emperor Napoleon had a fortress constructed in 1810. This fortress was later demolished and replaced with the first casino. This gambling hall was again changed in 1932-1935 and redecorated in Art-Deco style. Finally, in 1991, the entire complex was completely renovated in a very contemporary style.

On the Western side of the beach is the yacht-harbor. This large basin used to be the fisher harbor of Blankenberge. During the 20th century, however, the number of fisher boats kept diminishing and after the Second World War, the fisherman's harbor was changed into a new harbor where about 750 yachts can stay.

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