Ostend (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Oostende voor Anker attracted 175,000 visitors with 130 old ships and the theme “Working at Sea.” Mayor John Crombez and Peter Craeymeersch highlighted maritime jobs and future events in May 2026.
As VRT News reported, Oostende voor Anker attracted 175000 visitors in 2025 despite the bad weather. The theme of the 24th edition of the maritime festival was Working at sea. Visitors came to see the 130 old ships on display. They mentioned that these ships, like old sailing boats, tugboats, and fishing boats, gave people a special look into sea history.
Many of the ships were open. There was also lots of music, with songs from the old days of the sea, like sea shanties and folk tunes. People could watch crafts like knot-tying and net-knitting, which were important skills for sea life long ago.
Visitors could see how it was done or even try it themselves. There was also a food village where people could taste many dishes made from North Sea seafood, like fresh shrimp, mussels, and cooked fish.
“Despite the changeable weather, the atmosphere was fantastic,”
says Mayor John Crombez (Vooruit).
“A little rain didn’t stop anyone: we enjoyed the beautiful ships and the ambience along the quays.”
How will Oostende voor Anker highlight the future of maritime work in 2026?
This year’s new highlight was the theme “Working at Sea.” This was promoted with expert panels, talks, and workshops on the Sint-Petrus-en-Paulusplein and the old steamship ‘Hydrograaf.’ Maritime workers and experts shared what they know. They gave information about jobs at sea, new technology, offshore energy projects, safety, and sustainability.
Companies like RelyOn Nutec, Elia, DEME, and Jan De Nul set up stands to show what they do. They talked with visitors who wanted to know more about the maritime world. They showed their latest projects and tried to spark interest in future jobs at sea.
Peter Craeymeersch from Toerisme Oostende said that the theme of “Working at Sea” clearly caught the public’s attention and made them interested. He explained that the idea of the sea as a place that offers jobs will probably stay as part of the event in the future. He said the sea will become a very big source of work in the coming years.
He gave examples like the energy island project and the work being done to protect the coast, where Oostende can play an important role. He pointed out that people see how this is becoming more important and are eager to learn more about it.
The organisers of Oostende voor Anker warmly invite all fans of maritime life to come to the 25th edition of the event next year. They mentioned that anyone who is already excited and looking forward to it can mark the dates 28 to 31 May 2026 in their calendars. This next edition promises to keep celebrating maritime heritage. It will also focus on the future of the maritime sector.
