Belgian coast by tram

The modern-day tramway was formed from several lines of the Belgian Local Tramways (Dutch: Nationale Maatschappij van Buurtspoorwegen or NMVB for short), with the first construction of lines taking place around 1885, connecting Ostend and Nieuwpoort-Dorp. The NMBS (Belgian National Rail) operated many other lines branching off of what is now the Kusttram, most of which have since disappeared. The line was, and to this day largely is single-tracked, with trams running left-handed like Belgian trains do. Electrification on parts of the lines started in 1909. That winter, services were continued year-round for the first time. Some other lines of the NMVB network that remained in operation are some portions of the Charleroi light metro, the Aisne Tourist Tramway and the Lobbes-Thuin Tramway.

During the First World War, the tramway was severed by the Western Front around Nieuwpoort. The line was put to use for goods transport towards the trenches on either side of the front line. In 1919, the normal passenger service was reinstated. The modern-day route of the tramway formed in the late 1920s, as connections to De Panne were made and electrified. The line since runs almost parallel to the coast, only dipping inland to connect to Nieuwpoort. Plans to bypass Nieuwpoort were made, but never materialised.

The Second World War saw the Belgian coast become a part of the Atlantikwall, which put in place many limitations on passenger transport. Citizens along the coast needed special permission to be allowed to travel inland. In 1940, before Nazi German occupation, the line was already set to be dismantled, though the outbreak of the war put a stop to those plans. During the occupation, the electric wiring between Ostend and Middelkerke was removed; this was later followed by a suspension of all services along the coast. After liberation in September 1944, the coastal route was quickly rebuilt and put back into service by the middle of December. Despite arguments being made to demolish the line to be replaced by buses, the NMVB politely declined, but did close some of the branch lines as time progressed.

From 1956 onward, the line operated in two sections, line 1 (Knokke - Ostend) and line 2 (De Panne - Ostend). Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, despite further calls to mothball the route from some quarters, the NMVB persisted, arguing that during summer, 900 people used the service every half-hour in Ostend alone. Alternatives were proposed in the form of an underground railway or elevated railway line, but these were deemed far too expensive.

Day passes for the Kusttram are fairly inexpensive. For just €9, you can get yourself an adult single-day pass, which can be obtained from about a hundred locations across Belgium, including at most of the tram stops. A price overview is listed in the table. There is also a bike pass supplement available for €2.40, valid for one bike for one hour. Alternatively, if you'd rather be more economical, you can get individual tickets for €3, which pay for one journey by tram for 60 minutes (plus whatever travel time remains to your destination stop when bought as a physical copy from a ticket machine). Paper tickets can be validated within 1 year from the purchase date. A more in-depth rundown of available passes and packages, including mobile and text-based tickets, group tickets and combination tickets for Plopsaland/Plopsaqua in De Panne, is available on the De Lijn website and on this other page of the official website.

The Urbos 100, nicknamed the Zeelijner (Sea liner) is being put into service to replace the BN Series 6000. 48 of these new units have started to be introduced since April 2021, with their major improvement being accessibility for everyone. They have a capacity of 187 (54 seated), with around 20 fold-down seats. They can reach up to 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), whereas their predecessors used to run about 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph) most of the time. As of 2023, these are the main rolling stock found on the Kustlijn.

The HermeLijn stock consist of trams taken in from the Ghent tramways, with two units operating the Kusttram during summer to support a higher frequency of operation. Its name is a play on the Dutch name for a stoat, which its livery faintly recalls. The L is capitalised to emphasise the name of the operator: De Lijn.

The HermeLijn can transport up to 192 people, of whom 58 can be seated. The trams, produced between 1999 and 2012, can reach top speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph) and have a low floor, allowing for wheelchair access.

The TTO Noordzee has ten historical motor coaches that once operated along the coast or elsewhere in Europe. TTO is based at the tram depot in De Panne, from where they operate "historical services" between De Panne Loskaai and Adinkerke Station. The journey takes some 40 minutes, and departs every Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday of July and August at 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30, if a tram operator is available. The journey costs €4, and children up to the age of six travel for free. Other special running days for historical running stock are on "Open Monumentendag" (second Sunday of September), and a Christmas service from 26 to 30 December. The depot in De Panne can always be visited free. TTO's stock can also be rented for special occasions.

While the trams are either partially or entirely low-floored, allowing for wheelchair access, not all platforms are at that same height. As of 2019, the wheelchair-inaccessible stops are: Knokke Station; Duinbergen Watertoren; Zeebrugge Vaart and Strandwijk; Oostende Marie-Joséplein; Middelkere Casino; Oostduinkerke Bad; Koksijde Bad; De Panne Canadezenplein, Centrum, Kerk and Moeder Lambic. Mobility scooters are not allowed on board the tram.

Ostend has an airport, Ostend-Bruges International Airport OST IATA, but it mostly receives cargo traffic. A much more sensible option would be to fly to Brussels Airport and take a car or train from there.

Below is an overview of all connections to the Belgian rail network. The recommended and useful connections have been underlined.

1 Knokke : The tram terminus in Knokke is located about 200 metres north of the train station. Trains stopping in Knokke are Intercity 23A (Brussels Airport - Brussels-Zuid/Midi - Ghent-Sint-Pieters - Bruges - Knokke), as well as a peak hour and tourist train connecting to Bruges during the week and weekend respectively.

IC 23A: Brussels Airport — Brussels-Zuid/Midi — Ghent-Sint-Pieters — Bruges — Knokke

ICT 6600: Bruges — Knokke, tourist train, operates on weekends only.

2 Duinbergen, Kerk , some 300 metres south from the tram stop of the same name, but is not recommended as the station is just one stop away from Knokke, which is the turn-around point for trams, hence making the connection easier. Yet, if you need to shave several minutes of time off of your journey and are heading for Heist, Zeebrugge or further west by Kusttram, consider catching the tram here instead. Heist itself also has a train station, though it is 700 metres (770 yd) from the nearest tram stop.

3 Zeebrugge-Dorp : Zeebrugge Vaart tram stop is located about 200 metres north of the train station, at the end of the Azorenstraat. Zeebrugge-Dorp's train services don't operate during weekends, with services being rerouted to Zeebrugge-Strand instead, which does not have a useful connection to the Kusttram.

L 550: (Mechelen —) Ghent-Sint-Pieters — Bruges — Zeebrugge-Dorp, weekdays only.

4 Blankenberge has trams stopping right outside the train station. Blankenberge can be reached using one intercity (IC) and three tourist trains (ICT):

IC 03: Genk — Leuven — Brussels-Zuid/Midi — Ghent-Sint-Pieters — Bruges — Blankenberge

ICT 6700: Charleroi-South — Mons — Tournai — Mouscron — Bruges — Blankenberge

ICT 6705: Antwerp Centraal — Ghent-Sint-Pieters — Bruges — Blankenberge

ICT 6710: (Neerpelt/Turnhout —) Herentals — Mechelen — Ghent-Sint-Pieters — Bruges — Blankenberge

5 Oostende (Ostend) : the Kusttram platforms are integrated into the station, which can be reached by most intercity services, these being:

IC 01: Eupen — Liège-Guillemins — Brussels-Zuid/Midi — Bruges — Ostend

IC 02: Antwerp Centraal — Ghent-Sint-Pieters — Ostend

IC 12: Welkenraedt — Liège-Guillemins — Brussels-Zuid/Midi — Ghent-Sint-Pieters — Kortrijk (— Bruges — Ostend), only in service on weekdays.

The tram's western terminus Adinkerke is at the eastern extremity of Dunkirk's urban bus network, DK'Bus, which operates completely free-of-charge to all passengers. Dunkirk receives high-speed trains (TGV) from Paris-Nord and Lille-Flandres, as well as local trains (TER) from Calais-Ville. From the central railway and bus station (Dunkerque Gare), take bus route C1 or C2 to the end of the line (Leffrinckouke Fort des Dunes). These operate on a combined 7-minute headway, with a journey time of about 15 min. From Leffrinckouke, bus route 20 leaves every 30 min throughout the day bound for Adinkerque Gare (actually De Panne tram and train station), with a journey time of just over 30 min.

High-speed Eurostar trains run multiple times a day between London-St Pancras and Brussels-Midi / Zuid, with a journey time of around 2 hr. From here, follow the instructions above to any of the interchanges between Belgian Railways and the Kusttram.

Alternatively, you can catch the Eurostar from London to Lille-Europe, where you can change to a TER to Dunkirk; this can be accomplished in around 2 hr 20 min. From Dunkirk, take the bus to De Panne as above.

Passenger ferries from the United Kingdom to Belgium ceased operations in 2021. The only remaining route is a roll on-roll off freight connection from Teesport to Zeebrugge operated by P&O, which can be used when travelling using a small freight vehicle such as a van. When travelling by camper, double check whether it's allowed on board.

For all other vehicles from the UK, consider ferries from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, or from Hull/Newcastle upon Tyne to Rotterdam instead. When on foot, those connect well to the metro (the Hook's harbour is within metres of a metro station). From there, head to Rotterdam Centraal railway station, take a long-distance train to either Antwerp or Brussels, from where you can get an intercity train to most of the train stations along the coast.

Alternatively, you can use the very regular and fast ferry connections from Dover to Dunkirk or Calais in France instead. The Dunkirk service is only for vehicles, so independent foot passengers should use the Calais route instead, pick up a train from Calais-Ville to Dunkerque stations, and then follow the directions in From France above.

If you own a boat yourself and wish to sail to the Belgian coast, marinas can be found in Zeebrugge, Blankenberge, Ostend and Nieuwpoort.

Starting just north of Knokke's railway station, the eastern terminus of the Kusttram, 1 Knokke, Station , can be found opposite the 1 Sint-Margarethakerk. The church isn't that old, but the shorter tower you're looking at while waiting for the tram to depart is, dating back to 1642. The church sustained heavy damage during the Second World War, and a new church was built between 1955 and 1958, which incorporated the former main tower.

Running between houses, the tramway eventually meets up with the Elizabetlaan near the 2 Duinbergen water tower and Park 58, a small nature reserve of barely 10 hectares (25 acres). Shortly after, you reach the 2 Duinbergen, Kerk stop, which stands outside the 3 Heilige Familiekerk. Dating from 1939, this modern Gothic church features some art deco elements. Duinbergen itself, meanwhile, dates largely from the early 20th century, having been shaped after the creative vision of German architect and urban designer Hermann-Josef Stübben. The concession for development of Duinbergen as a whole was given out in 1901, and within seven years, some 80 villas were already constructed. The many villas in Duinbergen give this area a charming view, though tourism introduced a desire for large apartments along the coast, which replaced many of the villas there.

Entering into Heist, the tram next stops at 3 Heist, Willemspark. Unsurprisingly, it is located by the entrance of the 4 Directeur-Generaal Willemspark. Formed from a dune ridge, between both World Wars this park housed two batteries constructed by the German Empire and demolished by the Nazis. Between the wars, these batteries were a museum of sorts, with admission fees funding veterans' welfare. After the war, the dune landscape was reconstructed and the park was created. The paths in the park are named for political prisoners from Heist that didn't see the end of the Second World War, the only exceptions being the Keunepitpad (rabbit hole path) and Bunkerpad (bunker path). The park was rejuvenated in 2015, and borders the seashore.

In the town centre of Heist, the tramway inches closer to the coast, with two broad squares providing views across the sea. These are the 5 Heldenplein, featuring a statue commemorating those fallen during the First World War, and the 6 Vissershuldeplein, meaning Fishermen-homage-square. It's quite unsurprising that the statue here pays homage to local fishermen. Just east of the Heldenplein you can also find the picturesque 7 Visserskapel, a small neo-Gothic chapel for fishermen, first built in 1854 but taken down again in 1868 as the sea came closer and closer to damaging the original chapel. It was reconstructed in 1927 when a smaller chapel with a statue of the Holy Theresia got added as well; you can find her just behind the chapel. The stops that serve Heist's city centre are 4 Heist, Heldenplein by the aforementioned Heldenplein, and 5 Heist, Dijk near the Vissershuldeplein.

Leaving Heist, you first pass the short and stubby 8 Low-light of Heist, a small lighthouse which, together with the 9 High-light of Heist, acted as an orientation point for ships out at sea. The next stop along the route is 6 Zeebrugge, Zeesluis, which serves the eastern side of the 10 Pierre Vandamme Lock, the largest lock of Zeebrugge's port, measuring at a length of 500 metres (1,600 ft), a width of 57 metres (187 ft) and a depth of 18.5 metres (61 ft). Should the massive bridges linking both banks be open, fear not, for the tram will make a short detour via the other end of the locks.

The first stop in Zeebrugge proper is 7 Zeebrugge, Kerk, named for the 11 Sint-Donatuskerk beside the stop. This church is dedicated to Donatius of Reims, the 4th-century French bishop and patron saint of Bruges. It was completed in 1911, burned down towards the end of the First World War and rebuilt by 1920. The current neo-Gothic building dates from 1951, after sustaining major damage during the Second World War, and has an eight-sided steeple. The churchyard is not the resting place of any locals, as one would expect, but instead is where the remains of 175 German (three of whom unidentified) and 30 British soldiers (17 of whom unidentified) who lost their lives in the First World War. 44 of the German casualties were due to a tram accident in September 1915; another 40 were crew members of two torpedo boats sunk in battle off the coast of Zeebrugge.

To the north of Zeebrugge Kerk lies 1 Seafront, a theme park focussing on fishery and maritime history, which attracts some 50,000 visitors annually. One of the most prominent sights here is the 12 West-Hinder II, a 1950s boat which warned passing ships of sandbanks, and searched for off-shore plane- and shipwrecks. Some of the vessel's duties have since been taken over by buoys, so it has been lifted out of the water and placed at the head of the marina as a memorial. Seafront also has a small museum.

Next, the tram crosses disused railway 202, a branch line that once served the harbour. It then crosses the Visartsluis either via the (northern) 13 Visartbrug or the (southern) monumental 14 Straussbrug, where the tram briefly runs alongside the aforementioned railway 202, which connects to Zeebrugge-Dorp train station shortly after. The station itself can be reached at the next stop, 8 Zeebrugge, Stationswijk . This stop serves the Stationswijk, which, despite being rich in listed monuments, is not the most picturesque of destinations.

The next stop has some more sights. 9 Zeebrugge, Strandwijk serves the part of Zeebrugge that borders the beach. Aside from a visit to 2 Zeebrugge Beach, there are some buildings here that might be worth seeing, most notably the monumental 15 Palace Hotel, which overlooks the beach. Additionally, you can walk out onto the Saint-George's Day-Wandeling, a promenade jetty which has many remembrance plaques for the Zeebrugge Raid. On the night of the 23rd and morning of the 24th of April 1918, British forces attacked Zeebrugge's port. The intended goal was to blockade the harbour, a launching point for U-boats, and prevent the subs from reaching the North Sea. The barrier dam which was contested during the battle can still be traced up to a large breakwater and lighthouse known as the 16 Old Mole.

Entering Blankenberge, the first stop is 10 Blankenberge, Duinse Polders, which serves a hotel and campsite.

The next stop, 11 Blankenberge, Pier is named for the 350-m-long (1,150 ft) 19 Belgium Pier. It was the first of its kind on the European mainland's Atlantic coast, with the only other one being located in Scheveningen, the Netherlands. The first pier, a cast iron art-nouveau structure, was built in 1894, but was burned down by the German occupiers 20 years later. In 1933, the new and current pier was opened. On the beach by the pier, you will also find 3 De Lustige Velodroom, "the Merry Velodrome", dating from 1933. Here, you can attempt to ride some 70 different bikes that have been made "crazy" (in other words, difficult to ride) in one way or another. Either try your best, or just laugh at others trying theirs!

Until 2022, Sea Life Blankenberge had its own stop, but now is best accessible from Blankenberge, Pier.

20 Sea Life Blankenberge, Koning Albert-I-laan 116, Blankenberge, ☏ +31 32 5042 4300. 10:00 - 16:00. Aquatic zoo featuring over fifty aquaria, housing amongst others a small colony of Humboldt penguins, a flock of small-clawed otters, as well as a crab aquarium themed around Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch series. (updated Dec 2022)

4 Farys Noordzeebad, A. van Ackersquare 1, Blankenberge. M W-Sa 09:00 - 19:00, Tu 10:00 - 19:00; Su 09:00 - 00:00. An indoor swimming baths complex with waterslides and a Turkish-style hammam. The (thankfully heated!) pool water comes straight from the North Sea. (updated Aug 2022)

After Blankenberge Pier, the train station (12 Blankenberge, Station ) is the next stop. The tram stops on the Koning Leopold III-plein; head north from here along Kerkstraat to find the 21 Former city hall of Blankenberge. This small and quaint 1680s town hall is just one of many delightful historical buildings in Blankenberge's city centre. Following the Kerkstraat to the sea, you'll see the unusual façade of the 5 Casino Blankenberge, over which crawl giant statues of babies. Other interesting attractions in Blankenberge include:

22 Belle Epoquecentrum, Elisabethstraat 24, Blankenberge, ☏ +31 50 636 640. Tu-Su 14:00 - 17:00. A museum on life during the Belle Époque (roughly 1870 to 1914), which is when many Belgian coastal cities saw their boom, electrification picked up, and man started conquering the skies with planes and Zeppelins. (updated Aug 2022)

23 Huisje van Majutte, Breydelstraat 10. W–Su: 11:00–18:00. Once one of sixty-odd similar houses, Majutte's Little House is one of the two surviving 18th-century fisherman's cottages in the Breydelstraat. (updated Aug 2022)

Leaving Blankenberge, you find yourself in Harendijke, which contains more vacation homes than it does normal houses. Serving these and two panorama viewpoints is 15 Wenduine, Harendijke.

Wenduine itself is quite sparse in sights, even though the area has been inhabited continuously since the 8th century. It has been a seaside resort since 1886. Construction of villas started two years later, and a hotel followed in 1895. Most of the town was built between 1902 and 1924, and this period also saw the addition of a boulevard to the north, which the tram follows today. There's nothing much to see at 16 Wenduine, Manitoba, but you can get off the tram at 17 Wenduine, Centrum for the town centre and the 26 Spioenkop, Belgium's second-highest coastal dune, or at 18 Wenduine, Molen for the small namesake 27 Hubertmolen, a small wooden windmill dating back to 1880 and named for the Hubert family, which once was a prominent family of millers found all along the Belgian coast.

On your way out of Wenduine, you might be able to see the town's 28 water tower between the trees. The route of the tram at this point is surrounded on both sides by the 6 Duinbossen (dune forests), Duinbos Wenduine and Duinbos Vlissegem to be precise. Together forming a site of 152 hectares (380 acres), the Duinbossen lend themselves particularly well to hiking, running and mountain biking (yes, you can go mountain biking in Flanders!). For these, you can leave the tram at 19 Wenduine, Konijnenpad, 20 De Haan, Zwarte Kiezel, or 21 De Haan, Waterkasteellaan.

Simply by passing through De Haan, you get to see one of its most notable buildings. The 29 former station building at 22 De Haan aan Zee dates from 1902 and, like many villas in town, was built in typical Belle Époque style. Although the station building is now occupied by a tourist information centre, there is still an original features to spot from the platform: a bilingual signs between the tracks, stating "Verboden op den spoorweg te gaan / Défense de circuler sur la voie" (Forbidden to walk on the tracks).

The town itself has several hundreds of listed buildings, many of which are villas, shops and hotels built during the Belle Époque, and mixing a range of styles from Anglo-Norman and Neo-Gothic to Art Nouveau and early Art Deco. You will see plenty of these buildings when walking northwest towards the beach. Whichever route you take, it will lead you past many imposing and undoubtedly expensive villas and apartments.

After De Haan's main tram station, 23 De Haan, Zeepreventorium follows, where, in the dunes leading towards the beach, you can bump into several disused military bunkers. Next is 24 De Haan, Vosseslag, which is the access point to the 7 Kijkuit nature reserve, containing the third and final of the dune forests around De Haan and Wenduine. Also at this stop, you will find the 8 Royal Ostend Golf Club, one of Belgium's oldest golf courses and the only links course in the country. It was directly financed by Leopold II in 1888, as to lure more British tourists to De Haan. Walking towards the beach here, you will cross the 30 Lighthouse annex Panoramic tower.

25 Bredene, Renbaan once served a hippodrome (Dutch: Renbaan). What remains now is a delightful 31 Art Deco shelter. Taking a walk towards the sea here will lead you through several hundred metres of dunes. Turning right on the beach leads you to a dedicated nudist area. If nudity is something you shy away from, then you might want to avert your eyes at the next but one stop, Duinenplein, for it has a prime view of 32 De Uitdaging (The Temptation), a statue of a woman nicknamed "Blote Betsy" (Naked Betsy). Before that, though, lies 26 Bredene, Campings, which mostly serves the local campsites. It also has the shortest walking distance to the beach, so if you'd like to shave several metres off your walk, disembark by the campsites.

Just west of the path from 27 Bredene, Duinenplein to the beach, lies 33 Battery E690, which thankfully has been disarmed of its 28-cm (11’’) diameter guns, and other firepower such as FlaK anti-aircraft guns. One of the more prominent remnants of the war around De Haan, the overlooks the beach, reminding of its original purpose to defend against Allied landings.

Now approaching Ostend, the stop 28 Oostende, Oosteroever gives access to 34 Fort Napoleon and the dozen of smaller batteries littered throughout the dunes. The polygonal fort was built in 1811 during the War of the Fifth Coalition. It was subsequently abandoned when by 1814 a British attack had not come, and Napoleon was on the way out. During the First World War, the German Empire reused the fort, and equipped it with heavy armoured gun batteries. During the Second World War, the fort functioned as a Nazi German artillery headquarters. It became a museum after the war, fell into disuse again, and after five years of restoration, was reopened to the public in 2000. Seeing its many users over time, the fort contains interesting remnants of Napoleonic-era France, the German Empire and to a lesser extent, the Third Reich. Most notable are the multiple Imperial German murals. Nearby you will also find numerous bunkers such as a 35 mortar bunker with ammunitions depot. Also near this stop is 36 "Tall Nelly" (Dutch: Lange Nelle), Ostend's slender white-blue lighthouse.

Following the beach promenade and the sea dike, you pass 37 Raversijde, Middenlaan, for which the Flemish name Raversyde is also used locally. After this and Ostend-Bruges International Airport, you reach 38 Raversijde, Provinciedomein. This "provincial domain" (country park) was opened in 1988 and is still being developed. It stems from the former royal estate of Leopold II, who had a Norse chalet built here, which disappeared during the First World War. During the Second, it was used for construction of the Atlantikwall, and was given to Charles VI, the last Count of Flanders after his regency; he subsequently settled on the estate. In 1981, he sold the land to the state, which then opened it to the public seven years later. The park, as of 2022 contains:

54 Openluchtmuseum Atlantikwall (Atlantikwall Open Air Museum), Duinenstraat 147 , Oostende. An open air museum focussing on the Nazi mega-project that was the Atlantikwall, a large coastal defence system of bunkers stretching from southern France to northern Norway, as to defend against a British invasion. The museum counts some two dozen bunkers, trenches, as well as accommodation and artillery. (updated Aug 2022)

55 Memoriaal Prins Karel (Prince Charles Memorial) (next to the Atlantikwall Museum). A small museum in honour of Prince Charles, the last royal owner of the estate. The memorial museum is housed in the home he stayed at frequently from 1950 until his death in 1983. (updated Aug 2022)

Middelkerke-Bad is perhaps one of the nicer small seaside towns along the route. It has four stops on the tramway. The first, 39 Middelkerke, De Greefplein is near to 56 De Oude Post, a tourist information point and small museum about the history of the local casinos.

The second stop, 40 Middelkerke, Casino, may or may not have a different name depending on when you're visiting, as the casino it is named for no longer stands today and is being replaced by a new building. Until completion of the new casino, there is little more here than a Ferris wheel, which admittedly gives great views of both sea and land. Almost certainly of more interest are the 57 Zeedijk Comic statues, 17 statues of some of Belgium's most famous comic book figures, placed along the length of the Zeedijk. Meet favourites such as Spirou and Spip, Lucky Luke, and Smurfette and Hefty Smurf. Along the beachfront itself are a plethora of restaurants and an arcade called Reflex-21.

The last stop in town, 41 Middelkerke, Verhaeghelaan is the closest to the art-deco 58 Saint Theresa Chapel. The stop also gives access to the north side of the 59 Warandeduinen, a nature reserve covering 32 hectares (0.12 sq mi) of dunes, meadow and broadleaf woodland; in June, thousands of orchids are in bloom. In the vicinity, though possibly a bit of a hike away, lies 12 Kegel X-treme, a venue for bowling, karting, an escape room, laser-tag, a VR-area and more.

The west end of Middelkerke is where you'll find 42 Middelkerke, Krokodiel, which mostly serves vacation homes and campsites, but also gives access to the 60 Warandetoren, a viewing tower overlooking the aforementioned Warandeduinen, as well as Middelkerke and Westende.

Arriving in Westende, the first stop is right by the 61 Grand Hôtel Bellevue, the creation of famous Belgian architect Octave van Rysselberghe. This luxurious hotel, opened in 1911, is an Eclecticist mix between Neo-Palladian and cottage architecture and is such a dominant local landmark that the tram stop is named after it: 43 Westende, Belle Vue. On the beach by the hotel is an intriguing sculpture; Latvian artist Ivars Drulle's I Can Hear It consists of two large horns, like those on old record players, facing out to sea, with the statue of a woman listening to one of them. The seat next to her is free, inviting you to put your ear to the other horn and listen to the waves. The work is possibly a reference to wartime listening stations, encampments where soldiers would listen with not dissimilar horns for inbound aircraft; technology which has since been superseded by radar.

By 44 Westende Bad are a set of cottage villas, somewhat overshadowed by the high-rise modernity all around. One of these, the 1922 art-nouveau 62 Villa Les Zéphyrs, was based off a design for the Brussels 1910 World Expo; it's open for guided tours every Tuesday at 10:00. On the other side of the tracks is the 63 Sint-Theresiakapel. If you're on a westbound terminating tram, you can see the chapel from all angles without disembarking, as the turning loop back to Ostend circles around the chapel.

45 Westende, Sint-Laureins is located amongst the 64 Sint-Laureinsduinen, offering more military history in the form of a grouping of Atlantikwall bunkers, 65 Hkb Westende Plage.

The rest of the journey towards Nieuwpoort doesn't cross many sites of interest. Between Westende and Lombardsijde, the tramway turns inland to avoid a military base. Instead, heading almost due south, it passes through 46 Lombardsijde, Zeelaan and 47 Lombardsijde, Schoolstraat, the latter of which is closest to Lombardsijde town centre. The focal point is a church, the 66 Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Visitatiekerk, completed in 1923. Until the end of the 19th century, Lombardsijde was a place of pilgrimage for Iceland-skippers, Western European fishermen who fished the waters around Iceland. After a long period of decline, the authentic Iceland-skipping died out in 1934.

From Lombardsijde Zeelaan, the tramway heads towards the river IJzer and Nieuwpoort.

Entering Nieuwpoort, the tram first crosses the River Yser at the 67 Ganzepoot (Goose's Foot), where no fewer than six sluices join half a dozen waterways into the Yser. A large number of war memorials are dotted about the Ganzepoot. To explore them, it's easiest to disembark the tram at 48 Nieuwpoort Stad. Follow the road called Sluizen back across the sluices towards the Ganzepoot to reach the 68 Terre d'Amis, a monument to Navy personnel and overseas forces killed during the First World War. Then, cross the Veurnesas at the first sluice and the Overlaat van Veurne-Ambacht at the second, to get to a small park containing the gravestone-like 69 Lieutenant Calberg-monument. This commemorates a decorated officer of the Compagnie des Sapeurs-Pontonniers (bridgebuilders) who was gassed during the First World War near this very spot. Behind this lies the considerably more impressive 70 IJzermonument, a more general First World War memorial depicting a woman on a high pillar protecting the Belgian crown, facing the west because the enemy came from the east. Four more figures around her represent the Belgian resistance, those figures being a wounded soldier, a blind man, an infirm man, and a resilient man.

After crossing the River Yser and the Nieuwendamme creek, a small 71 memorial to the 81st French Infantry division punctuates your walk towards the Ganzepoot. Next, cross the Gravensas and the Overlaat van het Nieuwbedelf, after which you finally reach the two main war memorials. The 72 Nieuport Memorial carries the names of 547 British soldiers without a known grave who were killed in action during the 1914 Siege of Antwerp or during the defence of the Western Front from June to November 1917. Three lions surround the monument, a pillar atop a triangular platform. The 73 King Albert Memorial is without a doubt the main First World War memorial in Nieuwpoort, a 25-m-tall (82-ft) circular monument named after the king who saw Belgium through the war. Also on site is a visitor centre and museum about the Western Front, 74 Westfront Nieuwpoort / King Albert Monument.

If war memorials aren't what you're looking for, then from the Nieuwpoort Stad stop, you can also easily go into the city centre, which features a UNESCO-listed 75 Belfry and grain tower, and 76 Nieuwpoort Fish Market (Vismijn).

Back on the tramway, the next stop towards Nieuwpoort-Bad is 49 Nieuwpoort, Cardijnlaan, which serves Nieuwpoort Marina on the western bank of the Yser. The larger part of the marina is on the opposite bank, though this is poorly-connected to the Kusttram. Walking downstream from Cardijnlaan along the Robert Orlentpromenade, you're led through the 77 Maritiem Park (Maritime Park), which features a number of sculptures. This is possibly a more pleasant way to reach Nieuwpoort-Bad, as the tramline runs a few hundred metres away along a main road. The last stop within Nieuwpoort-Stad is 50 Nieuwpoort, Victorlaan, which mostly serves residential suburbs.

52 Nieuwpoort, Zonnebloem lies within Nieuwpoort, but largely serves the surrounding dunes. The stop is one block away from the 80 Sint-Bernarduskerk, a neo-Romanesque church built in 1923, though some of its interior pieces are at least twice as old. The church sits in the middle of a broad promenade leading to the beachfront, which lies a block further. Directly after this tram stop is a turning siding, opposite of which is one of the entrances to the 13 Simliduinen, one of the multiple protected pieces of dune landscape around this part of the Belgian coast.

Between Groenendijk (53 Oostduinkerke, Groenendijk) and Oostduinkerke, the tramline crosses through yet more dune landscape, though unlike the dunes on the northern end of the Kustlijn, these do not have a dedicated stop. Therefore, if you wish to visit the 14 Duinen van Ter Yde, Hannecartbos en Oostvoorduinen, you'll have to disembark the tram either at Groenendijk, and walk 725 metres (793 yd) westbound, or disembark at Duinpark and walk 625 metres (684 yd) eastbound.

54 Oostduinkerke, Duinpad is the next stop after these dunes. The iconic cottage-style villas that typify the Belgian coast are abundant here; many within walking distance of the tram stop are small hotels and B&Bs. The actual heart of Oostduinkerke-Bad is found at the next stop, 55 Oostduinkerke-Bad. Oostduinkerke's beach has a 81 visitor centre, behind which is the only beachside open-air swimming pool in Belgium. Oostduinkerke is the only place in the world where the ancient profession of horse shrimping is still practised. Since 2013, the practice has been listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, though as it can't compete with modern trawling, it's heavily subsidised for the sake of tourism. Most of Oostduinkerke's sights are, however, in the town about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) inland, with the Leopold II-laan connecting Oostduinkerke-Bad. If you walk along this street, you'll encounter plenty of historical buildings, bars, restaurants and hotels.

The last stop in town, 56 Oostduinkerke, Schipgat is the main stop for visiting the 82 Schipgatduinen. The striking ship-like 1 Hotel Normandie is also nearby. Additionally, you could head inland via the Doornpannestraat to reach the 83 Doornpanne / Aquaduinen Visitor Centre. The dunes here are a source for Flemish tap water, leading to the dunes being nicknamed Aquaduinen (water dunes).

The first stop in Koksijde is 57 Koksijde, Lejeunelaan. By walking southwest from here via the Pierre Sorellaan, you enter a neighbourhood of Belle-Époque villas known, perhaps a bit surprisingly, as the 84 Quartier Sénégalais (Senegalese Quarter). The name can be either explained by soldiers from France's colonies having been stationed here during the First World War, or by the names of the villas themselves, many of which were owned by former colonialists. Gaston Lejeune designed a lot of the villas, hence the name of the tram stop. On the central square of Gulden Vlieslaan in the Quartier, you'll find a facsimile of Belgium's most-photographed landmark, but the 85 Manneken Pis van Koksijde comes without the crowds. To the north of the Lejeunelaan stop, the Zouavenplein leads to the beach. In the middle of the short boulevard is the 86 Zouavengedenkteken, a monument to the French Zouaves and officers who fell on Belgian soil in the First World War.

The main stop for Koksijde is 58 Koksijde-Bad. The beach is northwest of the stop, and a notable landmark is the 87 Seaside Clock at the end of the Eugenie Terlickplein. Some 500 metres (550 yd) to the west is the 88 Monument ter ere van de Zeelui, a 1982 monument to seafarers.

Koksijde's third stop comes between the town centres of Koksijde and Sint-Idesbald. Around the next stop, 59 Koksijde, Ster der Zee, you'll find 89 't Krekelhof, a museum dedicated to cabinets of curiosities. Next to it, you'll find a 90 Statue of Saint Idesbald, to whom the town owes its name. By following the Koninklijke Prinslaan inland, you will come across the ruins of 91 Onze-Lieve-Vrouw ten Duinen Abbey. Founded in the 12th century and abolished during the French Revolution, the abbey once had three mills, but only the 92 Zuid-Abdijmolen (Southern Abbey Mill) remains, along with a museum.

The last stop in Sint-Idesbald and in the larger municipality of Koksijde is 60 Koksijde, Sint-Idesbald. This town centre stop is barely a minute's walk from the beach, which is home to several temporary art installations. There are a lot of restaurants around the stop, along with some sights such as 93 Mieke Hill, the highest cottage in Sint-Idesbald, and the 94 Keunekapel, surrounded by a small park of statues. The chapel served refugees from Nieuwpoort during the First World War, but in 1935 it was deconsecrated and converted to residential use, after which several artists called it home.

De Panne has six stops to its name, two of which are actually in Adinkerke. When arriving from Koksijde, the first three stops connect to the beach well, after which the Kusttram heads inland to reach its terminus.

61 De Panne, Canadezenplein connects to the eastern end of De Panne beach. At low tide, the sand can stretch 450 metres (490 yd) from the shore to the sea, so this is a popular place for land yachting.

62 De Panne, Centrum lies at the foot of the Koning Albertplein, a block south of the beach. Between the previous stop and the next, you will find a lot of restaurants, bars, hotels and B&Bs. Of particular note are the many cottage villas and apartments that can be rented in the heart of De Panne, which can best be accessed via this stop.

63 De Panne, Esplanade is at the far end of the 95 Leopold I Esplanade from the statue of the monarch who entered the country for the first time here on 17 June 1831, after riding horseback from Dunkirk. Four days later, he was crowned first the King of the Belgians. This stop also has a branch line to the 96 TTO Tram Depot, where historical rolling stock mostly in service during the summer months, is maintained (see #Historical stock). The depot is open to visitors on certain days of the year; check the TTO Noordzee Facebook page for updates.

The neo-Gothic 97 Sint-Pieterskerk gives its name to 64 De Panne, Kerk. In addition, the stop is close to some campsites, as well as the dunes surrounding De Panne, so it's possible to start a hike from here.

65 De Panne, Moeder Lambic is named for the restaurant of the same name (though spelt with a K instead of a C). The stop mostly serves Adinkerk and the public, communal and military graveyards of Adinkerke. It and De Panne, Kerk can both be used to access the 98 Duinpanne

Provincial Visitor Centre, which promotes and interprets the surrounding forested dune landscape.

Alight at 66 De Panne, Plopsaland for the 99 Plopsaland De Panne family theme park and its sister water park Plopsaqua. These are centred around characters from Studio100's films and TV series for children. Probably the only character even vaguely familiar to most English-speaking visitors will be Maya the Bee, but this is one of the country's most popular amusement parks and draws in some 1.3 million visitors per year from Belgium, France and further afield. Combination tickets for travel by tram and entry to Plopsaland/Plopsaqua are available from De Lijn. The last stop on the route, 67 De Panne, Station , is less than a kilometre further on. Change for national rail services, catch a bus into France, or ride the tram back to Knokke!

From De Panne, the French city of Dunkirk, a place that has seen many wars throughout history, isn't too far away. There are plans to reconnect the city via more direct public transit, but until then the city can be reached via bus line 20 to Leffrinckoucke, Fort des Dunes, from where the local bus network of Dunkirk can be accessed.

Another, more easily accessible, historical city is Veurne. The trip by intercity train only takes seven minutes to Koksijde station, which confusingly serves the fringes of Veurne more than it does the town it's named after.

Lastly, if the World War heritage of Belgium interests you, the city of Ypres is an easy recommendation. The city hosted four of the deadliest battles of the Western Front in the First World War.

The Dutch border is less than 10 km (6.2 mi) from Knokke, and the closest town is the historical city of Sluis. Additionally, by a combination of buses you can get to Breskens, from where a ferry service can connect you to Vlissingen. This journey takes just over two hours during the off-season, but from Vlissingen and nearby Middelburg, most of Zeeland is easily accessible.

While the Kusttram is pretty much a one-of-a-kind line and service, there are some attractions in Western Europe that fall into similar categories:

The Rijdend Tram Museum (RTM) runs trams across the Brouwersdam, one of the Delta Works in Zeeland, the Netherlands.

The narrow-gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway runs between Hythe and Dungeness along Romney Marsh on the Kent coast, and is easily reached from the British side of the Channel Tunnel.

The Blackpool Tramway - North West England's answer to the Kusttram is much shorter than its continental counterpart (running 18 km from Blackpool to Fleetwood), but operates a similar mix of modern and heritage trams, and is the best way to see the seafront illuminations in winter.

Wuppertal, Germany, is famous for its Schwebebahn suspension railway, which tracks the course of the River Wupper below.

Bruges is a popular possible side trip. Similarly, Ghent is rather accessible by train from both Oostende and Knokke-Heist.

Kortrijk is just over an hour by train from either Ostend or De Panne.