Festival, Sport
New Year's Dive in Ostend
Start 2027 with a plunge: thousands of swimmers run into the North Sea at the Drie Gapers on 2 January, with a beach party, soup and jenever afterwards.
Photo: Roysfoto, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsAbout this event
Ostend’s New Year’s Dive (Nieuwjaarsduik) is one of the biggest on the Belgian coast: thousands of brave swimmers, many of them in fancy dress, run into the North Sea together on the main beach at the Drie Gapers. In 2027 it takes place on Saturday 2 January.
From 12:00 there is a beach party with a DJ and you can collect your wristband or register on the spot. The group warm-up starts at 14:40 and the start signal goes at 15:00 sharp; if you are late, you miss it. There are changing tents on the beach and lockers for €5, and afterwards free soup, hot chocolate and a glass of jenever to warm up, with food trucks on the promenade.
Tickets go on sale at the end of October: €10 in advance, €12 on the day (card or Payconiq only). There is no minimum age, but children under 12 must wear a wetsuit. Three beach wheelchairs can be reserved. The nearest coast tram stop is Koninginnelaan.
Accessibility
Organiser lists it as wheelchair accessible; three sea wheelchairs available on reservation (own assistance required).
Details can change at short notice. Please check with the organiser before you travel.
Location
Zeedijk (Drie Gapers), 8400 Ostend
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