Where is the train station in Blankenberge?
The railway station of Blankenberge is in the middle of town on Koning Leopold III-plein, a few minutes' walk from the promenade.
- Trains: an intercity runs every hour via Bruges and Ghent to Brussels and on to Leuven and Hasselt. On weekdays extra rush-hour trains run to Kortrijk.
- Summer: in July and August extra trains run (the Kust-Express), at weekends including direct trains from Antwerp and Charleroi.
- Coast Tram: the Blankenberge Station tram stop is right next to the station, with trams towards Knokke and towards Ostend.
- Journey time: about 15 minutes from Bruges, about 40 minutes from Ghent and about 1 hour 20 minutes from Brussels. From the Netherlands you travel via Antwerp and change in Ghent or Bruges.
- Journey planner: current times are on belgiantrain.be and in the NMBS/SNCB app.
How do you travel to Blankenberge by public transport?
The train takes you straight into the centre of Blankenberge, and the Coast Tram (Kusttram) stops at five places in town.
- Train: an hourly intercity from Brussels, Ghent and Bruges; extra trains run in July and August.
- Coast Tram: stops Duinse Polders, Pier, Station, Markt and Maritieme Zone; in summer the tram runs about every 10 minutes, the rest of the year usually every 15 to 20 minutes and less often in the evening. It takes about half an hour to Knokke-Heist and about 35 minutes to Ostend.
- From the Netherlands and Germany: take the train to Antwerp or Brussels and change there to the intercity towards Bruges and Blankenberge.
- Paying on De Lijn: on the tram and bus, hold your debit card, credit card or smartphone against the white reader; contactless payment also works with foreign cards. You only tap in, not out. You can also buy a ticket in advance in the De Lijn app.
- Works on the tram: in 2026 and 2027 De Lijn is renewing tracks and stops, including in Ostend and Bredene. On some evenings buses replace the trams, so check De Lijn before you travel.
- Journey planner: train times on belgiantrain.be, trams and buses on delijn.be.
How do you get to Blankenberge by car?
Blankenberge lies about 15 kilometres from Bruges and is easy to reach via the E40 or via the N49 and A11.
- From Brussels and Ghent: follow the E40 (A10) towards Ostend as far as Bruges, then follow the signs to Blankenberge.
- From Antwerp and the Netherlands: drive through the Kennedytunnel and along the E34 to Zelzate, then take the N49 and A11 and follow the signs to Blankenberge.
- From Zeeland: through the Westerscheldetunnel, which has been toll free for cars, motorhomes and motorcycles since 30 December 2024, and on via Sluis, Knokke-Heist and the coast road.
- From northern France: from Lille take the A17 (E403) past Kortrijk to Bruges.
- Driving time without traffic: Ghent about 45 minutes, Antwerp about 1 hour 5 minutes, Brussels about 1 hour 15 minutes, Lille about 1 hour 10 minutes, Rotterdam about 2 hours, Cologne about 3.5 hours.
- On arrival: parking is paid in the centre and along the seafront and scarce on busy days.
Can you cycle to Blankenberge?
Yes, Blankenberge lies on the coastal cycle route, and from Bruges it is about an hour's ride.
- From Bruges: about 15 kilometres following the cycle junctions through the polders and past Uitkerke.
- Along the coast: you cycle through the dunes to Wenduine and De Haan, and along the coast route past the port to Zeebrugge and Knokke-Heist.
- Coastal cycle route: the coast route (part of EuroVelo 12) runs along the entire Belgian coast, with a dense network of cycle junctions.
- Bikes on the train: on NMBS trains you buy a bike supplement in advance; folding bikes travel free. On the Coast Tram a bike is allowed if there is space, with a separate De Lijn bike ticket. On summer days trains and trams are often too full.
- Bike rental: Blankenberge has several bike rental shops.