Atlantikwall Raversyde

Atlantikwall Raversyde is a remarkably complete stretch of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, and one of the most atmospheric things to do on the Belgian coast. In the dunes west of Ostend you follow a trail through more than sixty bunkers, observation posts and gun emplacements, linked by open trenches and underground corridors, with the sea on the other side of the dune.

The site covers both world wars. The Aachen Battery is the only German coastal battery from the First World War still preserved, and won a European Heritage Award in 2022; the Saltzwedel-neu battery dates from the Second. A 75-metre panorama of photographs taken in 1945 and a permanent exhibition by photographer Stephan Vanfleteren add depth. The estate once belonged to Prince Charles of Belgium, whose house still stands in the grounds.

Allow two to three hours and wear sturdy shoes. Children get a treasure hunt, a spy game for teenagers and a family time-travel quest, all included in the ticket. The museum is seasonal, but the surrounding park is open all year. The Walraversyde medieval fishing village is on the same estate.