Bruges

West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen) is Belgium's only coastal province, known for its medieval cities, flat polder landscapes, sandy North Sea coast and deep-rooted history. The provincial capital Bruges draws most visitors, but the region extends far beyond it to historic trading towns, battlefields and seaside resorts.

The province's past is visible in the belfries, canals and stepped gables of Bruges, a UNESCO-listed historic centre, and in the Flanders Fields around Ypres, where the Menin Gate and In Flanders Fields Museum commemorate the First World War. Coastal towns such as Ostend and De Haan reflect a long tradition of seaside tourism and maritime trade.

Beyond the Bruges old town, the Belgian coast runs from Knokke-Heist to De Panne with beaches, dunes and coastal trams. Ypres and the surrounding war cemeteries form a major remembrance destination, while Kortrijk, Roeselare and smaller towns show everyday Flemish life, markets, breweries and cycling routes.

The province also matters economically through the ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend, food processing, textiles and logistics. Local specialities range from chocolate, waffles and beer to seafood and regional cheeses, and the calendar includes cultural festivals, remembrance events and coastal races.

West Flanders is compact and well connected, making it an easy base for both short breaks and work trips. Leisure travellers come for Bruges, the coast and war history, while business visitors use the region's ports, venues and road links to Brussels, Ghent and Lille.