Ostend (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The 52nd Paulusfeesten in Ostend, led by chairman Pascal Bale, drew large crowds with Red Sebastian, Preuteleute, Dimaro, and Oostende Zingt. Free entry strains finances, relying on drink sales.
As VRT News reported, the 52nd Paulusfeesten festival in Ostend once again drew a large crowd with music, performances, but the organisation is facing financial concerns. The event is free for everyone. The festival depends almost completely on the sale of food and drink tickets at its bars and stands. That revenue pays for the concerts, activities and the infrastructure.
Officials mentioned that not all visitors contribute, as some choose to bring their drinks or buy them cheaply at night shops and convenience stores nearby. The organisers say that the financial balance is still being calculated, but they already expect that the profits will be lower than in previous editions.
How did the 52nd Paulusfeesten in Ostend draw crowds despite financial challenges?
Festival chairman Pascal Bale explains that cans and glass bottles are not allowed on the site because of safety, yet plastic bottles and other packaging remain permitted. To address this, the organisers are focusing on awareness instead of strict bans.
They are posting messages on social media and putting up signs across the festival grounds to remind the public that the Paulusfeesten is free of charge and depends upon the income from drink sales.
Bale emphasises that visitors are clearly warned, but the final choice remains with them. The organisers stress that the future of the festival depends on partygoers supporting the bars, even if the festival aims to stay open and accessible to everyone.
Chairman Pascal Bale said the atmosphere improved day by day. The line-up included Red Sebastian, Preuteleute, Dimaro and Oostende Zingt. The program attracted large crowds and kept the squares busy throughout the week.
According to Pascal Bale, Tuesday, Aug 12, 2025, was the quietest day, but Red Sebastian still filled the square with fans. The highlight came on Sunday, Aug 17, 2025, with Preuteleute. Organisers said the show was the peak of this year’s edition.
The Paulusfeesten is a long-running summer festival in Ostend that has been organised since the late 1960s. It began as a neighbourhood celebration around the Petrus- en Paulusplein but has since grown into a major city event that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.
The festival is free to attend and offers a mix of concerts, comedy, street performances, and the popular community sing-along “Oostende Zingt.” Its name refers to the nearby Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, which provides the backdrop for the main stage.
