Fish Market, Oostende

2 more images

Here the fishing fleet of Ostend hold their fish auctions. Certainly worth a visit.
Still today, fish is omnipresent in Oostende and one of the best reasons
for a visit if your a fan of fresh seafood . Of course, there are the
numerous restaurants dotted all along the seafront serving
delicious fish meals on the menu .
You can spend 3 to 6 euros for a very tasty fresh snack from a few of the fish stalls.
As I write this, there is the movie The Perfect Storm on the TV, TCM,
I vow never to become a fisherman!

2 more images

Seagulls everywhere perched on the buildings, lamposts and on the sea wall.
Fishing and the sea used to provide the main source of income for the
inhabitants of Oostende. In the Middle-Ages the early city was mostly
a settlement of fishermen. Not so long ago, a quarter of the families lived from fishing.

2 more images

Take a short 10 minute walk from the railway station, turn to the right alongside
the 'Visserskaai' . When walking along the embankment you can see all the
fishingboats docked waiting before they make out to see
again.

2 more images

One thing every visitor to Oostende will see I guess, just outside the station and port a row of stalls with as much sea food on sale as I've ever seen.
Not a great fan of seafood myself but those who were seemed to be enjoying their food, the smell is pretty memorable too.
a pleasant hour watching on a warm morning.

1 more image

On the eastern edge of town along the waterfront, you'll find a number of stalls set up selling all manner of seafood scooped fresh from the North Sea. You can buy inexpensive sample sizes of various types of seafood snacks or just admire the items on display.

Fish market
Just outside of town you will find the fish market. Here the fishing fleet of Ostend hold their fish auctions. Certainly worth a visit.

Fishermen's quay - 'De Trap '
When you come to Ostend you must visit the Fishermen’s Quay. In the morning you can attend the homecoming of the shrimping boats. This is the best place to go to if you want to learn the dialect of Ostend .. The most delicious shrimps and many other kinds of fish are offered for sale in typical fish stands. Along the quay many stands sell lots of seafood

A stroll alongside the 'Visserskaai' is really a must. When coming from the railway station you turn to the right and you can first of all see the fisher-boats that wait here before their next trip begins. The most important part is the 'Vismijn' (Fish-mine), a large fish market, where early in the morning the fresh North-Sea fish is sold to the fish retailers. They sell the fish on to the restaurants all over Belgium.
Of course you can also find some nice fish restaurants along the Visserskaai.

From the station is it one stop with the tramway to go to the fish marked. Best is go to aerly in the morning (at zeven for exemple) On oktober 13 where 120 000 kg fish sale.

The skins decorate the stalls selling the wonderfully fresh seafood dishes.

A little freaky at first glance

A stroll alongside the 'Visserskaai' is really a must. There is a large fisher harbor in Oostende. The most important part is the 'Fish-mine', a large fish market.