Belgian Coast Posts Record Summer Tourism Since COVID Era

The Belgian coast attracted a record number of tourists this summer, with 11.2 million overnight stays and 6.1 million day visitors recorded during July and August — the highest figures since the COVID-19 pandemic period. According to VRT NWS, both numbers represent a nearly 10 percent increase compared to the summer of 2025.

A Bullseye Summer

“The summer holiday of 2026 was a bullseye for the Belgian coast,” said Jurgen Vanlerberghe, Provincial Deputy for Tourism and Chairman of Westtoer, the West Flanders tourism agency. “From June the summer feeling was good and it stayed throughout the holiday.”

July was already a record month with 5.6 million overnight stays, and August is estimated to have matched that figure. The total of 11.2 million overnight stays — registered across hotels, campsites, B&Bs, holiday homes, holiday parks, and second residences — is the strongest result since the pandemic era.

Flemish visitors accounted for approximately 60 percent of overnight stays (6.7 million), while 23 percent came from Wallonia (2.6 million) and 17 percent from abroad (nearly 1.9 million). German tourists were the most numerous among foreign visitors, according to HLN.

Day Tourism Surges

Day visitor numbers also reached pandemic-era levels. In July, 2.9 million people made a day trip to the sea, followed by an estimated 3.2 million in August — about 10 percent more than last year. Thanks to sustained good weather, day tourists were spread across the entire holiday period, with fewer extreme peak days.

Vanlerberghe cautioned that direct comparisons with COVID-era figures are not entirely fair. “During COVID nobody was allowed to travel abroad,” he told KW.be. “Now all restrictions have fallen away. So it is certainly not comparable. The fact that the figures are in line actually says a lot.”

Hospitality Sector Thrives

The surge translated into strong performance across the hospitality sector. Hotels along the coast averaged 75 percent occupancy, while the Belgian Coast and City Hotels (BCCH) group reported 79 percent across its ten coastal properties. “Last summer confirms the great appeal of our coast as a holiday destination,” said BCCH CEO Chavalie De Lodder. “The beautiful weather gave the coastal hotels a strong, stable season, with high occupancy rates on weekdays and weekends.”

Camping Chalets Koksijde reported an almost constant occupancy rate of 95 percent, with German holidaymakers notably well represented. Local businesses also felt the boost. Francis De Buck, owner of the ice cream and waffle salon Au Pingouin in Blankenberge, told Focus-WTV that he had to hire extra student workers because of the crowds, and expects a 13 to 18 percent revenue increase.

Events Drive Demand

Beyond the weather, a packed calendar of events contributed significantly to the summer’s success. The David Guetta concert in Zeebrugge generated extra reservations months in advance, while Tien om te Zien in Middelkerke attracted more than 6,000 additional visitors per day on July 14-15. Zomerarena in Koksijde drew 11,000 visitors, and other events including We Can Dance in Zeebrugge, Circus Camille in Oostende, and KH Summercamps in Knokke-Heist added to the draw.

The extended national holiday weekend around July 21 was particularly strong, with approximately 950,000 overnight stays compared to 700,000 the previous year, as VRT NWS reported at the time.

A Four-Season Destination

Tourism officials are optimistic about extending the coast’s appeal beyond the summer months. “The autumn is already promising with a strong autumn programme,” Vanlerberghe said. “Even outside summer, we are working hard on an attractive calendar of fixed and changing offerings. The coast is increasingly becoming a four-season destination.”

Upcoming autumn events include the Ironman in Knokke-Heist, Tastoe, Champagne aan Zee, the Superprestige cross in Middelkerke, and the Maand van de Garnaal in Nieuwpoort. More than 10,000 free maps for the new Expeditie Testerep cycling route were also distributed, signaling growing interest in active tourism along the coast.

The record figures underscore the Belgian coast’s enduring appeal as a domestic holiday destination and its growing resilience as a year-round tourism economy. As Belga reported, the numbers represent a significant economic boost for the region, with hospitality businesses reporting increased revenues and expanded seasonal staffing.

With strong autumn programming already in place and continued investment in events and infrastructure, the Belgian coast appears well-positioned to build on this momentum well beyond the summer season.