How do you travel to Zeebrugge by public transport?
You can travel to Zeebrugge by train via Bruges or along the coast by Coast Tram (Kusttram); the tram stops at four places in Zeebrugge.
- Train: an hourly train from Bruges and Ghent to Zeebrugge-Dorp or Zeebrugge-Strand.
- Coast Tram: stops Zeesluis, Kerk, Stationswijk and Strandwijk; in summer the tram runs about every 10 minutes, the rest of the year usually every 15 to 20 minutes and less often in the evening. It takes about a quarter of an hour to Knokke-Heist, about 10 minutes to Blankenberge and about 50 minutes to Ostend.
- Cruise passengers: a shuttle bus usually runs from the cruise terminal to the village or a station; check with your cruise line.
- Paying on De Lijn: on the tram and bus, hold your debit card, credit card or smartphone against the white reader; contactless payment also works with foreign cards. You only tap in, not out. You can also buy a ticket in advance in the De Lijn app.
- Works on the tram: in 2026 and 2027 De Lijn is renewing tracks and stops, including in Ostend and Bredene. On some evenings buses replace the trams, so check De Lijn before you travel.
- Journey planner: train times on belgiantrain.be, trams and buses on delijn.be.
Where is the train station in Zeebrugge?
Zeebrugge has two railway stations, Zeebrugge-Dorp and Zeebrugge-Strand, on the line to Bruges.
- Zeebrugge-Strand: the station is close to the beach, the promenade and the Coast Tram, and is served at weekends and in July and August.
- Zeebrugge-Dorp: on weekdays outside July and August this station is the end of the line.
- Trains: a train runs every hour to Bruges and continues to Ghent. In Bruges you change to the intercity to Brussels, Antwerp or Ostend.
- Journey time: about 15 minutes from Bruges, about 45 minutes from Ghent and about 1.5 hours from Brussels with one change.
- Journey planner: current times are on belgiantrain.be and in the NMBS/SNCB app.
How do you get to Zeebrugge by car?
Zeebrugge lies by the port, about 15 kilometres from Bruges, and is quickly reached via the E40 and N31 or via the N49 and A11.
- From Brussels and Ghent: follow the E40 (A10) towards Ostend as far as Bruges and take the N31, which runs straight to Zeebrugge.
- From Antwerp and the Netherlands: drive through the Kennedytunnel and along the E34 to Zelzate, then the N49 and A11 to Zeebrugge.
- From Zeeland: through the Westerscheldetunnel, which has been toll free for cars, motorhomes and motorcycles since 30 December 2024, and on via Sluis and Knokke-Heist.
- From northern France: from Lille take the A17 (E403) past Kortrijk to Bruges and then the N31.
- Driving time without traffic: Ghent about 45 minutes, Antwerp about 1 hour, Brussels and Lille about 1 hour 15 minutes, Rotterdam about 2 hours, Cologne about 3.5 hours.
- Lorries: the N31 and A11 carry a lot of port traffic; there is parking close to the beach and the marina.
Can you cycle to Zeebrugge?
Yes, Zeebrugge lies on the coastal cycle route and is easy to reach from Bruges and the neighbouring towns on flat cycle paths.
- From Bruges: about 15 kilometres following the cycle junctions through the polders and past the village of Lissewege.
- Along the coast: the coast route takes you to Knokke-Heist and Blankenberge; around the port you cross the locks on bridges that sometimes open for ships.
- Coastal cycle route: the coast route (part of EuroVelo 12) runs along the entire Belgian coast, with a dense network of cycle junctions.
- Bikes on the train: on NMBS trains you buy a bike supplement in advance; folding bikes travel free. On the Coast Tram a bike is allowed if there is space, with a separate De Lijn bike ticket. On summer days trains and trams are often too full.
- Bike rental: Zeebrugge has several bike rental shops.