From 16 June 2027 to 11 November 2028, the Province of West Flanders, together with Westtoer/Toerisme Westhoek, Toerisme Vlaanderen and local partners, will organise ‘Monuments & Moments‘, a new World War I theme year in the Westhoek region.
Tag: West Flanders
Flanders welcomed over 15 million visitors in 2025
Flanders is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination. In 2025, an estimated 15.4 million people visited the region, marking a 3% increase compared to 2024, according to provisional figures from Visit Flanders (Toerisme Vlaanderen). The number of overnight stays also rose to 36.3 million.
BRUGES | Prisma Queer Arts Festival on 16, 17 and 18 January 2026
From Friday 16 to Sunday 18 January 2026, the historic centre of Bruges in West Flanders in Belgium will once again host the Prisma Queer Arts Festival. Over three days, the festival presents a wide-ranging arts programme that places queer stories, identities and experiences at its core.
BELGIUM | Stoomtrein Maldegem-Eeklo presents 2026 heritage runs season ft. Balgerhoeke Bridge
Stoomtrein Maldegem-Eeklo has scheduled a busy 2026. One of the most visible highlights will be the Balgerhoeke Bridge, which will regain its former splendour following a thorough renovation. The first train to cross the renewed bridge is scheduled to be the Valentine’s Orient Dining Express. Further details are outlined below.
HAPPY NEW QUEER 2026 | Bruges on 17 January and Leuven on 23 January
The Antwerp Queer Arts Festival (AQAF) returns in August 2026 for a month of queer arts and performances in Antwerp. Sometimes you can take a name at face value. Exact dates aren’t published yet. But with Happy New Queer, AQAF holds events in Bruges in West Flanders, and in Leuven in Flemish Brabant.
Satisfaction surveys outline profile and strengths of Antwerp Airport and Ostend–Bruges Airport
Passenger satisfaction surveys conducted past autumn at Antwerp International Airport (ANR) in Deurne and Ostend–Bruges Airport (OST) in Ostend confirm both the strong appeal of Belgium’s regional airports and a clear profile of their typical users. Travellers cite proximity, short walking distances and personalised service as the main reasons for choosing regional airports, with older…
Deutsche Bahn to offer a Cologne – Ostend / Bruges / Ghent – Cologne high-speed train connection in the summer of 2026?
Is Deutsche Bahn planning a direct ICE high-speed train link from Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia to Ostend in West Flanders? VagonWeb, the leading website from Czechia that collects train compositions throughout Europe, thinks so.
BELGIUM | Trams in Liège
April 2025. For the first time since 1968, trams ride on the streets of Liège (Luik, Lüttich). Belgium has now five cities with trams: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and now Liège. And, of course there’s the Coast Tram or Kusttram in West Flanders, with 67 km the longest tram line in the world. Danny and…
Bruges Pride Parade 2025 on Saturday 14 June
Bruges in West Flanders is having a pride, Bruges Pride. Apparently it’s the second edition. This event is organised by Bruges Pride Parade, Vrijplaats Brugge, BruLes, BruGay and the students of Queeropeans at the College of Europe (Collège d’Europe).
Belgium to host Eurovision Song Contest 2026? But in which city?
Coming Saturday, 1 February 2025, a jury and the television watching public will decide will represent Belgium for Flemish public broadcaster VRT at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel in Switzerland. Oddly, Belgium has been on top of the bookmakers’ charts for the outright win. Íf, and it’s a big íf, that happens, which…