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Privacy policy

Last updated: 17 October 2026.

This privacy policy explains how Ostend City Guide handles your personal data when you use ostendcityguide.com. We keep what we collect to a minimum and never sell your personal data.

Who we are

Ostend City Guide is a website of netpeople.be, Vlaanderenstraat 23, 8400 Oostende, Belgium (VAT BE0885138658), the controller of your personal data. For any question about this policy or your data, email info@ostendcityguide.com.

What we collect, why, and on what basis

  • Browsing the site. Our server keeps standard technical logs (IP address, browser type, pages requested, timestamps) to run the site securely and prevent abuse. To protect our forms we also keep a short-lived, hashed version of your IP address for rate-limiting. Legal basis: our legitimate interest in a secure, working website.
  • Analytics. We use ConvertNow Analytics, a privacy-friendly, cookieless analytics tool that runs on our own server and keeps its data in our own database. It sets no cookies, uses no browser storage and builds no persistent identifier or profile of you — visits are counted with a short-lived, one-way hash — and no data is shared with Google or any advertising network. Legal basis: our legitimate interest in understanding, in aggregate, how the guide is used.
  • An account. If you create a free account (for example to add or manage a listing), we store your name, email address and password (hashed), and we send a code to confirm your email. Legal basis: performance of the service you request.
  • Listings, submissions and claims. When you submit or claim a business or event, we process the details you provide (such as name, address, phone, website, public email, opening hours, photos and description). Most of these details are shown publicly on the listing. We may keep internal notes for moderation. Legal basis: performance of the service and our legitimate interest in a curated, accurate guide.
  • Contact form. When you send us a message, we process your name, email address and message. These are emailed to us and are not stored on the website. Legal basis: your consent and our legitimate interest in replying to you.
  • Saved places. When you save places, they are kept in your account if you are logged in, or otherwise in your own browser (local storage), which never leaves your device. Legal basis: performance of the service / your consent.
  • Newsletter. If you subscribe, we process your email address to send you the newsletter. Legal basis: your consent — you can unsubscribe at any time.

Cookies

We use only strictly necessary cookies to run the site and keep it secure. We do not use advertising, social-media or cross-site tracking cookies, and our visitor statistics (ConvertNow) are cookieless and set nothing on your device. Interactive maps load only when you choose to open them. You can review the details and change any choice at any time via the Cookie settings link in the footer, or see our cookie policy.

Who we share data with

We share data only with the service providers (processors) we need to run the guide, under appropriate agreements:

  • Hosting and email delivery — to run the website and send transactional email (such as the confirmation code and moderation messages).
  • Maps and geocoding (Mapbox, built on OpenStreetMap data) and our content delivery network — to display maps and serve page assets; your IP address is processed as part of delivering that content. Interactive maps load only when you open them. Our visitor statistics are handled on our own server (ConvertNow) and are not shared with a third party.

We do not sell your personal data or share it for third-party advertising.

International transfers

We keep your data within the European Economic Area where we can, and our visitor statistics are processed on our own server in the EU. When you open an interactive map, our maps provider (Mapbox) may process your IP address to deliver the map, which can involve processing outside the EEA, including in the United States. Where that happens, it is covered by appropriate safeguards (such as the European Commission's standard contractual clauses and/or the EU–US Data Privacy Framework).

How long we keep your data

  • Account data: for as long as your account exists; we delete it on request or a reasonable time after the account is closed.
  • Published listing details: while the listing is live, plus a short period afterwards.
  • Contact messages: for as long as needed to handle your request and any follow-up.
  • Server logs: for a short period for security and troubleshooting.

Your rights

Under the GDPR you have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to the processing of your personal data, to data portability, and to withdraw any consent you have given. To exercise these rights, email info@ostendcityguide.com.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Belgian supervisory authority, the Data Protection Authority (Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit / Autorité de protection des données), Drukpersstraat 35, 1000 Brussels — www.dataprotectionauthority.be.

Children

The guide is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect their personal data.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will change the "last updated" date above and, where appropriate, let you know.

Contact

netpeople.be, Vlaanderenstraat 23, 8400 Oostende, Belgium — info@ostendcityguide.com.