City break Ghent: the best tips, sights and hotspots
August 27, 2024
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Is Triennial Beaufort fun to see? And do you find many extraordinary works of art along the Belgian coast? We think so. Tessa takes you on a trip to Belgium and is happy to share her best tips with you.
Close to home there is so much beauty to see and discover, which is why I am traveling again for Travander to Belgium. I visit several coastal towns where I discover the seaside sculpture exhibition of Triennial Beaufort. This triennial exhibition will take place from March 27 to November 3, 2024 and is a very nice recommendation for a trip close to home!
How do you visit the sculpture exhibition Triennial Beaufort?
Spread over 67 kilometers of coastline, you will find several images from the unique exhibition of Beaufort Triennial. You can move along the route in several ways, namely walking, cycling or using the coastal streetcar. During my visit to Triënnale Beaufort, I chose the coastal streetcar because it is a very fun but also comfortable way to travel from place to place. There are 67 stops between De Panne and Knokke. In short, there are more than enough options to get off and admire the sculptures of the exhibition. With a day ticket or 3-day ticket, you can travel along the Belgian coast unlimitedly and inexpensively.
What is the best route past the Trïennale Beaufort sculpture exhibition?
With more than 40 statues scattered along the Belgian coast, it is impossible to visit all of them at once. A nice place to stay during your weekend getaway is the coastal town of Ostend. I slept in the 4-star hotel Andromeda on the Seawall in the city center. From here, it's best to follow the coastline to the southwest. During my 2-day trip to the Belgian coast, I discovered as much of Triennial Beaufort as I could. These are my highlights!
Hotel Andromeda
Hotel Andromeda, with its velvet chairs and gold details, is a very modern hotel. The rooms are spacious, clean and feel very new. It is a place where you are completely pampered. Likewise, by the pool, in the spa and even at breakfast, you experience a sense of ultimate luxury. Yes, this is a place where you want to stay in Ostend!
My highlights of Triennial Beaufort
Ostend is a chic, old seaside resort with stately apartment buildings, posh-looking houses and a sleek boulevard. And during Triennial Beaufort, the coast is enriched with unique sculptures. So you'll find a number of artworks from the Beaufort 2024 collection in Ostend, but there are also older artworks to admire. Below, first our favorite in Ostend and then several stops and stops on the way to Middelkerke.
1. Femmy Otten - Mother (Beaufort 2024)
This is an interesting wooden self-portrait of a woman touching the surface of the water, with a tangle of body parts at her feet. Placed at a busy intersection in the middle of the city, the artwork brings with it a kind of tranquility. It is a place where you stop for a moment to admire what is in front of you in the midst of all the hustle and bustle.
Location: Leopold II-laan 24 in Ostend
2. Rock Strangers - Arne Quinze (Beaufort 2012)
A controversial work of art that many EastEnders themselves are not happy about. On the renovated Zeehelden Square, the city's hotspot, these bright orange blocks seem to have washed up. It's a cool contract with the otherwise somber boulevard.
Location: Zeeheldenplein in Ostend
3. Royal Galleries
The Royal Galleries are currently on the rise, but still give a good idea of the wealthy citizens who walked under these galleries in 1905. In this way, they remained protected from both rain and sun.
Location: Albert I-Promenade z/n in Ostend
4. Brasserie Albert
A fun hot spot in Ostend to remember is Brasserie Albert. After exploring various works of art, you will undoubtedly be hungry for some goodies. At Brasserie Albert, located on the seafront with a view of the sea, you can eat blissful food. Remember: if the weather is good, you can eat fresh shrimp caught the same day. Unfortunately it was very windy the day I was there, but the white asparagus with salmon also tasted more than good!
Location: Kon. Astridlaan 7 in Ostend
5. James Ensor - Inspired by light
Another unique and cultural highlight was visiting the show about the life of the artist James Ensor. The show is rendered in artistic image and sound. A must-visit!
Location: Dominican Church, Christinastraat 95 in Ostend
6. Middelkerke Casino stop
When you get off at the Middelkerke Casino stop, you immediately see a striking building containing a restaurant, casino, events hall and hotel. It received an international architecture prize and offers protection against rising sea levels.
7. Glazing Ball: Reflective Dialogues by Lucy + Jorge Orta
From the casino, walk to the park where you will find Glazing Ball by Lucy + Jorge Orta. It represents a former radio station in Middelkerke, which was important for maritime communication via wireless telegraphy between ships and shore. If you lucked out, as we did, you can sit here on a bench in the sun while admiring the artwork at your leisure.
8. Stop Middelkerke Krokodiel
You really can't skip this stop. Why? Because you will find several works of art here.
In Jef Meyer's work "Untitled," you can see his fondness for concrete. It resembles a bunker with peepholes or you can think of it as an observation post. You can consciously see traces of the making process, such as the stains and drops. These lend character, like the lines in marble. You can go in here and enjoy the view of the sea from there.
Within walking distance of Jef Meyer's work are many more works from previous editions of the Beaufort Sculpture Park on the Zeedijk, such as The Caterpillar by Wim Delvoye, the striking yellow artwork Olnetop by Nick Ervinck and perhaps my favorite: I Can Hear It by Ivars Drulle. You don't want to walk past this last artwork too quickly; rather, the point here is to pause and listen to the sea. The two huge horns, resembling old gramophones, face the sea. Sit on the bench, put your ear to the horns and listen to the sound of seagulls flying by and the murmur of the waves.
9. Newport City stop
The artwork we definitely would not have wanted to miss are the two green women sculptures by Alexandra Bircken called Top Down / Bottom Up. These sculptures are strategically placed in the already existing Albert I monument giving an interesting new dimension to the old monument. Another fun fact about the lock complex next to this monument is that it is named after the leg of a goose. Hence the name "Goose's Paw. Nieuwpoort itself is an incredibly charming town where you can settle down for a nice lunch!
10. Newport Cardijnlaan stop.
From this stop you can take extensive time to stroll along the largest marina in Northern Europe. Here you can settle down in the sun for a snack and a drink while looking out over the most beautiful boats. At the end of the promenade you will find Daniel Buren's artwork Le vent souffle où il vet from the 2021 Beaufort Collection. If you feel like it, you can walk on from this point to Avenue Albert I where you can browse in one of the cute boutiques.
What is the easiest way to travel to Ostend?
Do you feel like getting away for a weekend? Then consider visiting the Beaufort Triennial and travel to Ostend. It is a fun trip close to home, where you can combine art and culture with city and even beach. And you travel there easily too!
Public transportation between the Netherlands and Belgium is well organized, so my preference is always to travel by train. From Rotterdam Central Station you can be on the beach in Ostend in 4 hours. Ideal, right?
Check train times and ticket prices at the NS International website.
Tessa Knijnenburg
Always traveling, always on the go. I love Rotterdam and everything this city has to offer in terms of hotspots! My friends go crazy with me because I want to drag them everywhere, so you can understand how happy I am to make new discoveries for Travander. I am always eager to have new adventures and share my enthusiasm with you. Rotterdam, and maybe even the whole world, is about to be rediscovered through my eyes!
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