NAVIGO Fisheries Museum (Oostduinkerke, Belgium)
Photos – Info – Weather – Tips – Geo Info – Starry sky [- Tides]
General information about NAVIGO Fishing Museum
It used to be called the "National Fisheries Museum." Oostduinkerke used to be the place where most of the Icelandic fishermen lived. Not illogical that a museum about the life of fishermen was built there. The first stone of the current museum was laid in 1963 (the foundation stone was laid on June 23, 1963). Since then it has undergone several renovations and expansions. Quite recently (in 2024 to be exact) another new wing was opened with the "Sperm Whale Room" where the washed-up sperm whale "Valentine" is exhibited. This 17-meter-long and 25-ton mammal washed up on the beach of Sint-André (Koksijde) on February 12, 1989, hence it was named "Valentine." More than 100,000 people came to admire the imposing animal at the time.
In this family museum, by which we mean that it can interest people of any age, you have, among other things, a photo exhibition by the Belgian photographer Stephan Vanfleteren (from Oostduinkerke itself, still on display until the end of 2025), maritime paintings, a fisherman's cottage, the museum ship N.116 "Nostalgie" (which is currently being restored), basins (with small sharks and rays - you can't touch them though 🙁 ), and so on. Of course, due attention is given to the Oostduinkerk Shrimp Fishermen.
Several tens of thousands of people visit this museum every year, which surely indicates its importance and attractiveness. A visit to the Estaminet De Peerdevisscher really "completes" the visit. Ask for the lobster croquettes and/or the small sole (specialty of the house). Note: during the high season it is literally a queue and you have to wait a while to get a place on the terrace. Larger groups will have to make reservations anyway.
Visitor tips NAVIGO Fishing Museum
General tips:
1) if you are looking for other nearby attractions, consult our Tourist map of Top.Vlaanderen.
2) You can consult our overview lists: by category ( e.g. timeline, size, ...) or by region
3) You can also always consult tourist services: see our overview of tourist services
Tip 1: Did you know that monthly (on the first Saturday of each month) there is a so-called "Open Museum Day"? You can visit the museum for free then! Reserve your ticket in advance then.
Tip 2: If you have a great interest in the maritime world, we can also recommend in advance two other great attractions in northern France: NAUSICAA (the largest aquarium in Europe) and the fascinating Harbour Museum of Dunkirk (there you can also go and visit some boats, among other things). Nausicaa specializes in the biology of the seas, while the port museum, on the other hand, deals more with life in and around the port.
Geographical information
Address: Pastoor Schmitzstraat 5, Oostduinkerke, West Flanders, Belgium
Geographic coordinates:
– Google Maps: Latitude = 51.1173267 – Longitude = 2.6806584
– Open Street Maps: Latitude = 51.116899 – Longitude = 2.683078
– Altitude h = 5 m
Location of NAVIGO Fishing Museum on:
Tourist map of Top.Vlaanderen – Google Maps – OpenStreetMap.
Route to NAVIGO Fishing Museum: Route via Google Maps
Meteo
6°C
| Day | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Today
22:00
|
 cloudy
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6° | 7°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 10 Km/h | 97 % | 1020 mb |
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Tomorrow
22:00
|
 cloudy
|
5° | 9°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 10 Km/h | 91 % | 1020 mb |
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Mon Jan 26
10:00 p.m.
|
partly cloudy
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3° | 9°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 11 Km/h | 91 % | 1019 mb |
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Tue Jan 26
10:00 p.m.
|
 slightly cloudy
|
5° | 9°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 11 Km/h | 93 % | 1020 mb |
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Wed Jan 26
10:00 p.m.
|
partly cloudy
|
3° | 9°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 23 Km/h | 88 % | 1011 mb |
| Hour | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Today
10:00
|
cloudy
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7° | 7°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 10 Km/h | 97 % | 1015 mb |
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Today
13:00
|
cloudy
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9° | 10°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 9 Km/h | 90 % | 1016 mb |
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Today
16:00
|
cloudy
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10° | 10°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 7 Km/h | 88 % | 1017 mb |
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Today
19:00
|
cloudy
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9° | 9°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 8 Km/h | 92 % | 1019 mb |
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Today
22:00
|
cloudy
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8° | 8°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 9 Km/h | 91 % | 1020 mb |
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Tomorrow
01:00
|
cloudy
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7° | 7°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 7 Km/h | 87 % | 1020 mb |
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Tomorrow
04:00
|
cloudy
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7° | 7°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 9 Km/h | 89 % | 1019 mb |
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Tomorrow
07:00
|
cloudy
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7° | 7°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 9 Km/h | 91 % | 1019 mb |
Starry sky above NAVIGO Fisheries Museum
Internet information from and about NAVIGO Fishing Museum
Visitor numbers: 54,000 (2012)
Internet Media NAVIGO Fishing Museum: Website – Facebook – Instagram – Wikipedia (NL)
Internet Media Stephan Vanfleteren: Website – Wikipedia (NL – FR – EN)
Adjacent catering establishment:“Estaminet De Peerdevisscher”– website
Koksijde Tourist Office“Visit Koksijde”
Website – Facebook – Instagram
Tourism Westhoek (Westtoer)
Website – Facebook – Instagram
Our photos about NAVIGO Fishing Museum
Onze foto’s, video’s, … zijn allen (c) 2004-2026, Top.Vlaanderen, België. Ze mogen niet “zomaar” worden overgenomen of gebruikt. Ze zijn evenwel licentieerbaar. Wil U uw eigen toeristische attractie, B&B, vakantiewoning… laten fotograferen door ons, dat kan ook. Neem hiervoor contact met ons op via ons Contactformulier .
Photos of the exhibition halls (July 27, 2025):
Click on any of the photos below to launch the photo carousel....
Photos taken on the lowest floor with basin & aquariums (July 27, 2025):
Click on any of the photos below to launch the photo carousel....
Photos of the fisherman's cottage (July 27, 2025):
Click on any of the photos below to launch the photo carousel....
Photos from the temporary photo exhibition "Pèèrdevisschers" by Stephan Vanfleteren (July 27, 2025):
This exhibition will run until Jan. 4, 2026.
Photos by Estaminet De Peerdevisscher (July 27, 2025):
Click on any of the photos below to launch the photo carousel....
Disclaimer: All information presented on top.vlaanderen has been compiled with the utmost care. It is also checked regularly. If you have any comments, errors, additional information, etc... please contact us via our contact form. We are not responsible for possible incorrect or incomplete information.
