The Belgian coast
Ostend
Ostend combines beach with a real city — restaurants, culture and events all year.
Result: the highest annual occupancy on the Belgian coast.
What works in Ostend
- Highest year-round occupancy
- Strong winter demand (city break)
- Business guests present
Permits and taxes in Ostend
Ostend publishes both relevant taxes explicitly: second residences and the per-night lodging tax.
We cover: Ostend centre, Mariakerke, Raversijde, Stene and Zandvoorde
- Second-residence tax: base amount €1,000 per year, indexed annually since tax year 2022. Exemptions include sale or letting vacancy under six months, a move to a care home, or uninhabitability during major renovation.
- Lodging tax: owed by the operator; a maximum of €4.72 (excl. VAT) per room or unit per night may be passed on to the guest. Declaring to the city is mandatory and changes must be reported within 14 days.
- The city is tightening its lodging-tax regulation and digitising oversight of short-term rentals — correct registration and declaration are not a formality.
- Every accommodation you rent to tourists for payment must be registered with Toerisme Vlaanderen. Baseline conditions include a fire-safety certificate, fire and liability insurance, and an ownership or lease title that allows tourist letting.
- oostende.be — Belasting op tweede verblijven
- oostende.be — Verblijfsbelasting
- toerismevlaanderen.be — Aanmelding logies
Informative overview based on official municipal information — not legal advice. Rules change; always check your own situation with the municipality or ask us.
When do guests book in Ostend?
An average occupancy of 74% in Ostend doesn't come from one peak: it's built across three distinct periods. Here's how we handle each one.
- Peak seasonJuly – August
Belgian and French families book full weeks. This is where nightly rates peak; we use minimum stays and fixed changeover days.
- Shoulder monthsApril – June & September – October
Couples, cyclists and walkers. Mostly weekends and midweeks — dynamic pricing and flexible arrival days keep the calendar filled.
- Low seasonNovember – March
Christmas, New Year and spring holidays plus weekends. Well-heated, well-finished homes keep booking all year.
Want to know what your Ostend property earns?
Send us your address and property type. You get a concrete revenue estimate and a check on your permit situation — no obligation.
What does renting out in Ostend earn?
Based on the average nightly rate and occupancy in Ostend. An indication, not a promise — your home, its capacity and the season set the real number.
Cleaning fees are charged to the guest and are not included here. Tourist tax, utilities and consumption remain yours.
Calculate your revenueEffective cost rate: 17.7%
Frequently asked questions about renting out in Ostend
- Yes. In Ostend we work with a local team for check-ins, cleaning and interventions, and manage your rental end to end: listing on every platform, pricing, guest service and monthly settlement.
- €99 per month per home (incl. VAT) plus 15% commission on the gross revenue of every reservation. No setup fees and cancel any month.
- Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo/Abritel, Expedia, TripAdvisor, HomeToGo and Google Vacation Rentals, plus direct bookings through our own site. One calendar, no double bookings.
- Yes, short-term rental always requires registration in Belgium and the municipality may add conditions or a tourist tax. We take the registration and its follow-up off your hands.
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