Oostende

Maritime Site Ostend
On 3 April 1995 the Amandine O.129 entered the port of Ostend for the last time. This is when the curtain fell for Flemish fishing south of Iceland. Ostend Iceland fishery expanded enormously from the mid-19th century. In those faraway waters cod, herring, plaice and flounder were fished. Life on board was no joke. Iceland farers were men with beards who had the sea running in their blood; most of the time they stayed away from home for 18 days and often worked 18 hours a day. Three days ashore rounded off the three weeks. Then they set sail again for the next journey.
The Amandine is the last Iceland farer that was taken out of circulation. She first left the sea gate in 1962. After a thorough renovation she is now a museum boat in a custom-made covered drydock near Ostend station. On board the Amandine you will go back to the era of heroic Iceland farers. Interactive set-ups conjure up the salty air and floundering fish and make the stern creak and nightly storms rage. A piece of Ostend maritime history has been permanently preserved.
On the Maritime Site you can also take a look at the boat restoration and new construction yard. There work was completed in the spring of 2005 on a replica of an Ostend two-masted sloop from 1850. This historic boat type is the most representative Ostend vessel from the 19th century. The former oceanographic boat Paster Pype is undergoing a thorough facelift. After the restoration it will be deployed as a training ship for youngsters and for day trips. The two masted sloop is available for day trips and short vacations.
Practical: The boat restoration yard can be visited every working day individually or in groups and by appointment from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and tour are free.
Information: Maritieme Site Oostende vzw, Slipwaykaai, 8400 Ostend, tel. 0032-59 32 32 89, Mobile 0032-477 77 30 07