Fort Napoleon

Act like a spy and push your ear right up against the walls to hear its history in the fort’s museum. Make sure to check out the temporary exhibitions ranging from family friendly to artsy fartsy.

These days Fort Napoleon is home to a little history museum and tons of temporary exhibits for all the family. If you’re looking to learn more about Ostend’s history, then hop on by. History lovers should drop in to see a Fort in good condition. Right now they’re holding the Tik Tak expo, so come on by for a peek back into that colourful world of your childhood.

Why is it called Fort Napoleon?

Well, it’s named after Napoleon Bonaparte (sidenote: he wasn’t actually short but that’s a story for another time). Napoleon expected the British to attack from Ostend’s port. As usual, the British didn’t do what was expected and didn’t attack from Ostend. Long story short, this fort was used to hold troops and weapons until being abandoned in 1814.

• Off the Beaten Track: take the free ferry boat ride from the Vissersplein near the Aquarium to see a little more of Ostend. Fort Napoleon is surrounded by sandy dunes and just a short walk away from the beach. It’s not super busy unless there’s a popular exhibit
• Temporary Exhibits: Fort Napoleon usually has some kind of exhibit happening. They don’t last forever, so check out what they have on their website and book your tickets. They’ve hosted everything from the family-friendly events to artsy film exhibits.
• Tik Tak Expo: Searching for that dose of nostalgia? Bring the kiddos along to this expo all about the Belgian kids show. It's on til Jan 31st.

• Where to next? Take the kids to the beach or play at the nearby Dune & Sea (Duin en Zee) playground