Tourism and recreation

The Belgian coast is the country’s most popular holiday destination. The number of day tourists visiting the coast has fluctuated between 17 and 19 million per year for several years, except in the COVID year (2020), when the number of day tourists dropped below 10 million. Around one-third of day tourists visit the coast during the summer months, when the weather is at its sunniest. January is the least popular month for day tourists, with a yearly share of 3.2% in 2023.

The coast is also highly popular among overnight tourists. In 2023, the Belgian coast recorded 5.5 million arrivals and 27.3 million overnight stays. Of these, 59.9% were second-home owners staying in holiday homes or long-term camping pitches, while the remaining 40.1% stayed in commercial accommodation. Between 2007 and 2023, the number of overnight stays at the coast declined by 17.8%, whereas the number of arrivals increased by 10.6%. This indicates that the coast is being visited more frequently but for shorter stays.

Most tourists visit the coast to enjoy the sea and beach, and beach activities are particularly popular. During the summer months, Flemish beaches are monitored by coastal lifeguard services. Statistics show that rescue interventions by these services have been increasing, with a significant proportion involving watersports enthusiasts in distress. The Belgian coast is particularly popular among watersports enthusiasts, boasting 12 yacht clubs and 24 watersports clubs, with a combined membership of approximately 18,000.

In addition to coastal tourism, inland tourism is also on the rise. In 2023, the Bruges Ommeland region recorded 202,403 arrivals and 472,138 overnight stays, while the Westhoek region welcomed 489,951 visitors, accounting for 1,111,940 overnight stays.

More information on tourism and recreation in the Belgian coastal zone can be found in the thematic chapter Tourism and recreation of the Compendium for Coast and Sea and KustINzicht 2025.