Ostend (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Nostalgie, built in 1961, Belgium’s oldest wooden fishing boat, relaunched in Ostend, will join Koksijde’s NAVIGO Museum and begin tourist shrimp trips from Nieuwpoort in 2026.
As VRT News reported, the Nostalgie, the oldest wooden fishing boat still working along the Belgian coast, has been relaunched in Ostend. The municipality of Koksijde has purchased the vessel for the NAVIGO Fisheries Museum in Oostduinkerke. The museum will use the Nostalgie as a museum ship to share the story of the North Sea fishermen and their way of life.
What will the restored Nostalgie bring to the Belgian coast?
The Nostalgie has moved into the final stage of restoration. After its launch, the hull will be tested to check that it is fully watertight. Work continues in the engine room, where the last parts are being installed and adjusted. Electric systems and navigation equipment are now being fitted across the vessel. Once all systems are in place, the ship will go through safety checks and sea trials before entering regular service.
The Nostalgie will open to visitors in 2026 during the Koksijde Fishing Festival. The year will also mark the 75th anniversary of the Shrimp Festival and the 50th anniversary of the NAVIGO Fisheries Museum. After its public opening, the ship will offer tourist trips from Nieuwpoort.
The Nostalgie was constructed in 1961 at a shipyard on the coast when the majority of North Sea fishing boats were still built of timber. The fishing vessel operated for many years from Ostend and later Nieuwpoort and ceased commercial fishing in 2019. In 2023, the ship was placed on the list of protected maritime heritage due to its historic and age value.
