Your Essential Travel Guide To Zeebrugge

A small harbour town that is considered part of the larger metropolitan area of Bruges, Zeebrugge is nonetheless an interesting prospect for tourists, especially as part of a wider tour of the Flanders region.

As an important harbour in the First and Second World Wars, Zeebrugge has plenty of stories for history buffs to discover. Other than that, Zeebrugge is a relaxed harbour and seaside town, with a pretty beach and plenty of spots for fishing, sailing and other water sports.

For the gastronomic tourist there’s also a great deal of delicious cuisine to enjoy. Belgium’s most famous dish of mussels and chips is available virtually everywhere. Other local delicacies include cured and smoked ham, pâté and waffles and ice cream.

Any tourists interested in military history should head to the harbour, where you can visit the Russian submarine, Foxtrot. Standing at a mighty 100 metres long, visitors can get a hands-on look at how the ship’s 75-strong crew lived and worked on a day-to-day basis.

The former fish market was converted into a maritime theme park called Seafront Zeebrugge, including a tunnel where you can walk under the sea and discover all the flora and fauna of the region from a totally unique perspective.

Another highlight is the spectacular sea life centre in nearby Blankenberge which has over 50 saltwater tanks and 2,500 fish and other marine animals on display.

Zeebrugge beach stretches nearly as far as Ostend.