Fort Napoleon

About the museum

In 1810 Napoleon Bonaparte visited Ostend and ordered the construction of three forts to fend off English attacks. One of them was never built, one disappeared over time, and Fort Napoleon is the fort you can still visit today. Spanish prisoners of war and requisitioned local labourers built the pentagonal fortress, with its northern point facing the sea for a maximum field of fire.

After the French period, occupation and use changed greatly: the fort was a bastion for several armies, later also a local history museum, a military observation post, a children’s playground, a training ground and a storehouse. German soldiers also used the impregnable pentagon as a buffer against the Allies.

After a restoration the fort is a heritage site of Herita. The story trail lets well-known and lesser-known voices tell what happened here: from bakers whose flour was stolen to the cold winters in the fort. There is a tailored route for children. In the same spaces you will find temporary hands-on exhibitions, and the fort is available for hire for events.

Highlights

• Story trail with voices from the fort’s history
• Tailored route for children
• Pentagonal fortress with inner courtyard, caponiers and dry moats
• Roof terrace with views of the sea and dunes
• Brasserie at the fort

Permanent exhibition

• Verhalenparcours over de geschiedenis van Fort Napoleon – Route through the fort’s history in which well-known and lesser-known voices recount what happened here, with a tailored route for children.

Operated by

Herita vzw

Admission & discounts

Prices may differ during temporary exhibitions. The Museumpas is not valid.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The fort is fully accessible by wheelchair and pushchair, except the roof and the caponiers, which can only be reached by stairs. You can use the lift to go to another floor. The entrance is on a slight slope; the car park is 100 metres from the entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly

There is a tailored route for children on the story trail. The fort regularly organises hands-on exhibitions for families; from 24 October 2026 to 11 April 2027 this is the Ketnet Junior hands-on exhibition.

Getting there & parking

By car via the Koninklijke Baan (N34 Ostend–Knokke) on the Oosteroever; follow the signs.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Fort Napoleon brasserie (www.fort-napoleon-brasserie.be) and shop at the reception; toilets in the exhibition space and the brasserie.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The whole fort can be hired from €3,000; spaces such as the large seminar room (75 people, with Wi-Fi), the ramparts, the inner courtyard and the dry moats can be booked separately on request. Team-building is possible.

Plan your visit