Walraversyde Anno 1465

Long before Ostend became a seaside resort, a fishing village called Walraversijde stood in the dunes to the west. It was abandoned centuries ago, and it was only when archaeologists began digging here in 1992 that its story came back to light. This museum, on the same estate as the Atlantikwall, tells it.

The museum was completely redone and reopened in June 2026. Inside you see what the excavations turned up, from fishing gear and daggers to water whistles and a hoard of coins, and a 3D film reconstructs the village as it looked in 1465, with its chapel, mill, ropewalk and houses. Outside, four houses have been rebuilt with original bricks, ranging from a wealthy shipowner’s home to the cottage of a fisherman’s widow.

Entry is free, there are interactive games for children, and a visit takes about an hour. It pairs naturally with the Atlantikwall next door for a full day out in Raversijde, and the beach is just over the dune.