Flanders Sets Tourism Record with 28.8 Million Overnight Stays
Flanders has cemented its status as a premier holiday destination, recording nearly 29 million tourist overnight stays in 2025 — a new record for the region. The 28.8 million overnight stays represent a 2% increase over 2024, driven by a surge in international visitors and continued strong domestic demand, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
A Record Year for Flemish Tourism
Nearly 12 million stay-over tourists visited Flanders in 2025, with about one-fifth arriving during the peak summer months of July and August. The growth was particularly notable among foreign visitors: international overnight stays rose by 4% between 2024 and 2025, while domestic stays grew by just 1%, according to data from Statistiek Vlaanderen.
Belgians remain the most loyal tourists in their own country, accounting for 55% of all overnight stays (15.7 million). However, the balance is shifting: 31% of stays came from neighboring countries — primarily the Netherlands, followed by Germany, France, and the UK — while the remaining 15% (4.2 million stays) came from non-neighboring countries.
The record figures are part of a broader national trend. Belgium as a whole recorded 46,136,112 overnight stays in 2025, a 2.9% increase over 2024 that surpasses pre-COVID levels, according to Statbel. Flanders accounts for 63% of all Belgian overnight stays, followed by Wallonia (21%) and Brussels (16%).
Coast and Art Cities Lead the Way
The 9 coastal municipalities and 5 art cities — Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven, and Mechelen — together account for just over half of all overnight stays. The coast contributes about 7.6 million stays, while the art cities add approximately 7.8 million.
Koksijde leads the coastal municipalities with 1.3 million stays, followed by De Haan (1.2 million) and Oostende (1.1 million). Among the art cities, Antwerp leads with over 3.2 million stays, followed by Bruges with 2.0 million and Ghent with over 1.6 million.
Surprisingly, it is not a coastal town or art city that has the highest tourist density in Flanders. The Flemish-Brabant industrial town of Machelen, near the Brussels Ring and Zaventem Airport, records 186 overnight stays per day per square kilometer — the highest in the region, driven largely by its proximity to the airport.
Hotels Dominate, Business Tourism Surges
Hotels remain the most popular accommodation choice, accounting for 38% of overnight stays (about 11 million). Gîtes, holiday homes, and apartments follow at 19%, holiday parks at 14%, and youth hostels at 12%.
Average length of stay varies significantly by accommodation type: hotel guests stay just 1.7 nights on average, while those in holiday homes, apartments, and gîtes stay about 4.6 to 5 nights. Holiday parks see average stays of 3.9 to 4 nights, while campsites and youth hostels average around 3 nights.
Business tourism is a notable growth driver. Conference and business travelers accounted for 19% of overnight stays in 2025, with business tourism growing by 14% compared to 2024. Camping also saw the strongest growth of all accommodation types nationally at +10.5% in one year.
Sustainable Growth in Focus
While officials welcome the record numbers, they emphasize that quality matters as much as quantity. “Flanders remains an attractive destination for both domestic and international visitors. We are continuing the upward trend of recent years,” said Toerisme Vlaanderen in a statement. “At the same time, we don’t just look at the growth in visitor numbers or overnight stays. It’s especially important that tourism also has a positive impact on the place itself: for residents, entrepreneurs, and visitors.”
This reflects the Reizen naar Morgen (Travel to Tomorrow) vision, launched in 2017, which prioritizes sustainable, quality tourism over simply maximizing visitor numbers. The vision emphasizes balancing growth with livability and spreading visitors across time and space.
Museums and Attractions Thrive
The tourism boom extends beyond accommodation. In 2025, museums and other tourist attractions in Flanders had a record year with 27.4 million visitors. July and August alone attracted 6 million visitors to theme parks, museums, and experience centers.
The sector’s economic impact is substantial. Tourism in the Flemish regions generates an annual revenue of 809 million euros, with visitors spending an average of 113 euros per night per person, according to indegazette.be.
Compared to the pre-COVID year of 2019, Flanders recorded 9% more overnight stays in 2025, demonstrating the region’s remarkable resilience and growing appeal as a European holiday destination. With continued growth in international visitors and a strong domestic base, Flanders’ tourism sector shows no signs of slowing down.