Blankenberge (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Blankenberge’s Kerkstraat staircase, built in 1899, will undergo a €600,000 renovation by B-Architecten, with €300,000 grant support, restoring steps, railings, and vault in 2 phases.
As VRT News reported, the famous staircase on Kerkstraat in Blankenberge, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, is about to undergo a major renovation. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors use the stairs, which connect the busy shopping street with the town’s seawall and the beach.
What’s next for Blankenberge’s 1899 Kerkstraat staircase €600K renovation?
The city council of Blankenberge will approve the renovation of the Kerkstraat staircase on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. The project is planned in 2 phases. In the first phase, work will focus on the steps and the vault beneath them. The second phase will involve repairing the stairs and restoring the railings to ensure safety and improve their appearance.
Expected investment for the refurbishment stands at approximately €600,000. The city council expects a refurbishment grant of €300,000 towards the refurbishment costs. The funding will assist in retaining the staircase as an important historical feature.
The Kerkstraat staircase is a major piece of Blankenberge, which has been in place since 1899. Use of the staircase is damaging the steps, the railings, and the vault under the stairs; therefore, restoration of the stairs is necessary. Other recent projects in town include the refurbishment of the Paravang that B-Architecten completed in 2022.
The restoration plan has been developed by B-Architecten under the B-Juxta label. This architectural group has considerable experience with heritage projects. The Kerkstraat stairs project is part of a larger program in which the firm will restore 6 monuments across the city.
