Drie Gapers

Drie Gapers is a three-passage architectural structure that links the former Royal Villa with the Royal Galleries along the seafront. Each passage has a vaulted opening, and the central one houses a bronze equestrian statue surrounded by sculptural reliefs.

The site originally held a royal residence from 1873, destroyed during World War II. This replacement structure rose from 1953 to 1956 as part of Ostend's post-war reconstruction.

The passageways were designed to link the royal spaces and create a formal connection between the buildings and the promenade. Walking through them, you experience how the architecture guides visitors naturally toward the beach and surrounding attractions.

The structure sits directly at beach level and functions as a public walkway between buildings. You can move freely through the passages, and the arched openings help orient you toward the waterfront and surrounding attractions.

The central passage displays relief sculptures on either side that many visitors pass by without noticing. These side panels are the quieter artistic element that adds a narrative layer to the whole structure.