Kursaal

Kursaal is the grand seafront building in Ostend that has anchored the city's social and cultural life for more than 170 years. The structure standing today, completed in the early 1950s, is actually the third kursaal built on the same spot at Wapenplein — and by far the most imposing.

Where did the building's story begin?

The site's history starts in 1852, when Ostend coal merchant Louis Vanden Abeele secured a concession to run a casino and commissioned architect Hendrik Beyaert to design the first kursaal. Because Ostend was still a fortified military town at the time, and the seafront strip belonged to the army, the building had to be a temporary, easily demolishable structure — so it was built mostly out of wood.

How did the building change over the decades?

That timber structure did not last in its original form. A far sturdier successor rose between 1875 and 1878, designed by architects Félix Laureys and Joseph-Jean Naert. This second kursaal served residents and seaside visitors for decades, until the Second World War brought it down — in 1942 the building was demolished to make way for a German bunker, part of the Atlantic Wall coastal defense line.

After the war, it took eight years before a new building replaced it on the same site. The current kursaal, designed by architect Léon Stynen, was built in 1950 using white Portland stone. This is the structure, completed in 1953, that still stands on Wapenplein today.

What makes today's building stand out?

The present-day Kursaal covers roughly one hectare, making it one of the largest venues of its kind in Europe — some sources describe it outright as the continent's largest casino. Architecturally, it is considered a defining example of post-war modernism in Belgium. Its interior is decorated with monumental murals by Paul Delvaux, one of the 20th century's leading Belgian surrealist painters, and these murals remain one of the main draws for visitors stepping inside.

What is the building's status today?

In 1998, Kursaal Oostende was officially recognized as a protected monument, confirming its architectural, artistic, and cultural value. Between 2003 and 2004 it underwent a major renovation: the main concert hall was reconfigured with more than 2,000 seats, and several additional multifunctional halls were added. Since 2024, the building has been undergoing a further transformation, backed by an investment of 25 million euros, aimed at converting the concert hall into a modern, modular space suited to contemporary events.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Kursaal still an operating casino? Yes, the building continues to function as a casino while also serving as a congress centre and concert venue, combining gambling with cultural programming.

Who designed the current building? Belgian architect Léon Stynen designed the present kursaal, built in 1950 and completed in 1953.

Why is the interior so distinctive? Because of the large-scale murals by Paul Delvaux, which decorate the main hall and give the space its unmistakable surrealist character.

Is this the first kursaal on this site? No — it is the third building to serve this purpose on Wapenplein, following the wooden structure from 1852 and the masonry building from 1875–1878 that was destroyed during the war.