Walraversijde

Walraversijde is an open-air archaeological museum in Ostend displaying a medieval fishing village from the 13th century. The reconstructed houses use original bricks and contain excavated objects displayed in rooms to show what daily life was like in that era.

The settlement began as a fishing village in the 13th century and remained inhabited for centuries until a major storm in 1394 flooded the area and shifted sand across the land. After that, people moved inland and established new communities there.

The homes reveal how people earned their living from fishing and adapted their daily routines to coastal life. The rooms and objects show details about family life, crafts, and the rhythm of a seaside community centuries ago.

The site is accessible by car and located near the Atlantikwall Domain grounds with walking paths available year-round. Visitors should prepare for outdoor conditions and wear comfortable shoes since most of the experience is spent walking around the open-air structures.

Excavations started in 1992 and made this one of Europe's most thoroughly studied medieval fishing villages. Researchers have preserved and rebuilt so many details about seaside life from that period that few other sites compare in completeness.