Ostend: creativity and innovation at the intersection of land, city and sea

Innovation as a second nature

In Ostend, innovation is not a trend, but a necessity. The North Sea sets the rhythm of the city and confronts it daily with challenges related to climate, energy, ecology and mobility. This proximity turns Ostend into a living lab, where solutions do not remain theoretical but are developed and refined in real-life conditions.

From innovative coastal defence and water management to sustainable maritime technology and health innovation, research often starts here because the challenges are already tangible. Hosting a conference in Ostend means working in a context where creative thinking is directly connected to reality.

Where land, city and sea meet, innovation emerges.

An international hotspot for the blue economy and offshore innovation

Ostend has grown into one of Belgium’s key hubs for the blue economy and offshore innovation. With organisations such as the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Marine Station Ostend, Bluebridge, the Blue Accelerator and a broad range of offshore companies, the city offers a unique ecosystem where engineers, biologists, data scientists, entrepreneurs and policymakers collaborate closely.

For conferences, this ecosystem adds significant value. It allows content to be linked to concrete cases: site visits to marine labs or test zones, workshops on the energy transition and aquaculture, or co-creation sessions where technology, ecology and entrepreneurship reinforce each other. The North Sea acts as an open laboratory, visible and tangible for every delegate.

A city that breathes creativity

Innovation flourishes where creativity is given space. Ostend has embodied this spirit for decades. The city has long been a refuge for artists ahead of their time. James Ensor broke the conventions of painting here, leaving behind a radically innovative body of work that can still be experienced today at the Ensor House. Léon Spilliaert translated the light, emptiness and introspection of the coast into a visual language that continues to inspire.

Beyond the classical arts, Ostend keeps pushing creative boundaries. Marvin Gaye found a decisive turning point in his career here, writing music that resonated worldwide. This openness to experimentation, reflection and renewal remains deeply embedded in the city’s DNA.

Contemporary creativity is also visible in the streets themselves. With The Crystal Ship, Ostend has become an international reference for street art. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the festival has transformed the city into an open-air gallery where world-class artists engage in dialogue with public space. Creativity here is not a closed discipline, but a shared experience.

In Ostend, art does not stay within walls - it shapes the backdrop of every encounter.

Compact, human-centred and inspiring

Ostend combines the facilities of a major city with the scale of a compact, easy-to-navigate destination. Conference venues, hotels, culture and nature are all within walking distance of one another, often with sea views. This proximity encourages informal encounters and spontaneous conversations — exactly the moments when ideas accelerate and new collaborations are born.

The city invites visitors to slow down without losing momentum. Fewer transfers mean a smaller ecological footprint, while the overall experience becomes more intense. Even mobility can be approached creatively here, for example through transport by water.

Ostend as an open test city

Ostend increasingly positions itself as a testing ground for innovation. The city invests in smart city solutions, sustainable mobility, biodiversity, the circular economy and climate adaptation. This offers conference organisers the opportunity to enrich their programmes with real-life applications and tangible examples.

Delegates can explore local projects, visit ongoing experiments and engage directly with researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers. In this way, a conference becomes an experience where knowledge, practice and creativity come together.

From conference venue to journey of discovery

Choosing Ostend means choosing more than a location. By weaving the local ecosystem into the programme — through site visits, workshops, living labs or keynotes by local experts - the conference becomes part of the city itself. Ostend is not an island, but an invitation to discover.

The combination of sea, innovation, creativity and human scale elevates conferences to a higher level. Ostend proves that impactful ideas emerge where people come together in places that challenge, inspire and connect.

Ostend is a city where creativity and innovation are not programmed, but lived.