Unique in Belgium, the Blankenberge pier is a jetty built in 1933 featuring a circular Art Deco structure. Stretching 350 meters into the sea, it houses a brasserie as well as an event space.
Galerie photos
Door Walter Vermeir, CC BY-SA 3.0, Koppeling
History
The Blankenberge pier was first proposed in 1873 by a Londoner named John Hendrey, but construction was rejected by the municipal council, as the structure would have divided the seaside resort. Similar proposals in 1881 and 1883 were also declined. In 1888, a pier project was finally approved and built on the eastern side of the city by the Société Anonyme du Pier de Blankenberghe.
The pier opened in 1894 and quickly became a popular attraction, but it was burned down by German occupiers in 1914 during World War I.
After the war, the city rebuilt the pier, inaugurating the new structure in 1933. During World War II, the pier was preserved thanks to the friendship between a German sergeant and the town’s municipal council.
The pier was renovated between 1999 and 2003 and transformed into a leisure complex featuring several restaurants, an auditorium, and an exhibition space.
Reconstruction of the Walkway
The Blankenberge pier building was renovated in the early 21st century, but the walkway was not included in the renovation. The walkway had suffered severe deterioration due to concrete rot, and demolition followed by complete reconstruction became the only viable solution. For many years, the passage under the pier was filled with sand to prevent debris from falling on visitors. Demolition of the walkway began in December 2021, and construction of a new walkway—based on the original plans but using more durable materials—is expected to be completed in 2025.
