Brussels Zaventem Airport (BRU) to Ostend

The drive from Brussels Airport to Ostend

Ostend lies 123 km (77 miles) from Brussels Zaventem Airport, and the drive usually takes about 1 h 19 m. The route heads west across Flanders towards the North Sea coast. This is a less frequently booked route, but it is available on request like any other. Traffic around Brussels at rush hour and on summer weekends, when many people head to the coast, can slow the journey. In those periods it is sensible to allow some extra time, especially if you have a ferry, a train or a check-in to catch.

Choosing the right vehicle

For small groups there are two private taxi options: one for up to 3 passengers and one for up to 4. Families or friends travelling with a lot of luggage may prefer the next size up.

• Private Minibus 8 Seats: suits groups of up to 8 passengers.
• Private Minibus 16 and 24 Seats: suit larger parties, such as wedding guests or company teams.
• Private Minibus 32, 40 and 48 Seats: cover coach-sized groups, school trips and events.

Pick the vehicle by the number of people and the amount of luggage, not by seat count alone.

Ostend and where to stay

Ostend is one of Belgium's best-known seaside cities. It has a long sandy beach, a seafront promenade, a busy harbour and a long history as a ferry port and fishing town. It was also the home of the painter James Ensor. Visitors come for the beach, the seafood and the walks along the sea wall.

Well-established places to stay include the Thermae Palace Hotel, a grand hotel near the seafront and the Thermae Palace spa, and the Andromeda Hotel on the Albert I Promenade, facing the beach. Both are easy to reach by road from the airport.

Meeting Point

Your driver waits at Java Coffee House inside Brussels Zaventem Airport, holding a personalised name sign. The spot is easy to find once you have collected your luggage, so you can meet your driver without a long search.