Coastal division
The jurisdiction of the Coastal Division stretches along the entire Flemish coast. This means that not only the beaches, dunes, and dykes, but also the marinas, and fishing ports of Nieuwpoort, Oostende, Blankenberge and Zeebrugge all fall within the scope of the department.
What do we do?
Sea defenses and coastal management
One of the most crucial core tasks is the protection of the population against the forces of the sea, storm surges and flooding. Therefore, it is a top priority to devise a Masterplan for Coastal Safety that is guaranteed to provide adequate protection against the sea.
Coastal marinas
Coastal ports have a tourist-recreational, but also an economic value. In addition, they increase the attractiveness of the seaside resort and improve coastal and water-related experiences for residents and holidaymakers.
Flemish Hydrography
Our Flemish Hydrography Team maps the sea, the foreshore and the seabed, detects wrecks and locates their position in the navigation channels, carries out depth soundings in the river Scheldt and compiles tide tables, marine charts, current tables and reports for sailors.
Coastal division in numbers
67
kilometers of coast to protect and manage.
4
coastal marinas along the Flemish coast: Nieuwpoort, Oostende, Blankenberge en Zeebrugge.
3.776
square kilometers to sound for Flemish Hydrography.
Masterplan for Coastal Safety
The Flemish Government approved the Master Plan for Coastal Safety in June 2011. That proposes a series of measures to protect our 67-kilometer-long coast against a 1000-year storm surge. In the same year the Coastal Division started already with the implementation of the measures.
In the Master Plan, all flood risks are established and the risk zones charted. For each risk zone, measures and possible alternatives are studied. The emphasis is primarily put on the realization of the chosen measures necessary to ensure coastal safety until 2050. Thereby the expected rise in sea level is being taken into consideration.
Sea and Coastal Weather Forecast
In our Oceanographic Meteorological Station we produce an exclusive weather forecast for the sea and coast, which is disseminated not only to professional users, such as port authorities and shipping professionals, but also to the general public.
Watch the forecastPermits
With this form, you can hand in a request to use public property for private purposes. By private, we mean that you use the public property exclusively for yourself. For example, to execute work, to organise activities or to establish, change or move constructions. The request relates to the private use of roads, waterways, seawalls and dykes.
Permit for private use of public property
Beaches, dunes, dykes, marinas and fishing ports, the Coastal division provides protection against the violence of the sea, but also promotes recreation on and along the water. Furthermore, we map the North Sea and the Scheldt and prepare weather reports for the sea and coast.
- Caroline Lootens, head of the Coastal division
Where can you find us?
The Coastal Division
Administrative center
Vrijhavenstraat 3
8400 Oostende