Ostend is the largest city on the Belgian coast, with 1,133,000 tourist overnight stays recorded in 2024, according to Toerisme Vlaanderen (Kerncijfers 2025). Unlike purely summer resorts, Ostend maintains rental demand all year round, which changes the pricing strategy to adopt.
What is the average price for a rental in Ostend in summer 2026?
Indicative price grid by property type (high season, July-August)
| Property type | High season (Jul.-Aug.) |
Mid-season (Apr., May, June, Sept.) |
Low season (Oct.-Mar. excl. public holidays) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed (2-3 guests) | €90 to €130 | €60 to €90 | €45 to €70 |
| 2 bedrooms (4-5 guests) | €130 to €180 | €85 to €130 | €65 to €100 |
| 3+ bedrooms (6+ guests) | €170 to €220 | €110 to €170 | €80 to €130 |
Indicative market ranges for a well-located, well-rated property in Ostend. Source: aggregated platform data (likibu.com, hometogo.fr) and AirDNA Ostend benchmark 2025-2026. The exact price depends on location, amenities and booking history.
Ostend recorded 457,000 tourist arrivals in 2024, making the city the leading Flemish coastal municipality by volume of arrivals, according to Toerisme Vlaanderen (Toerisme in Kerncijfers 2025).
What factors make rates vary in Ostend?
Location
The seafront promenade (Zeedijk) and adjacent streets let for more than the city centre. Mariakerke, a residential district west of Ostend, shows slightly lower nightly rates but a good occupancy rate thanks to a loyal local clientele.
Seasonality
Ostend stands out for a more urban profile than the other resorts. July and August remain the peak months, but weekends at Easter, in May and at All Saints, as well as the Christmas market, also generate significant peaks.
| Period | Demand | Recommended strategy |
|---|---|---|
| July, August | Very high | Maximum price, MinLoS 5-7 nights |
| Easter, All Saints, Christmas | High | High price, MinLoS 2-3 nights |
| May, June, September | Medium | Mid-range price, MinLoS 2 nights |
| Oct. to Mar. (excl. public holidays) | Low to medium | Attractive price, MinLoS 1-2 nights |
Listing quality
Professional photos, recent reviews and a high response rate directly influence your position in Airbnb and Booking search results, and therefore the price you can charge.
How does the tourist tax work in Ostend?
According to Stad Oostende bekendmaking 2026/019, two schemes coexist in 2026:
- Permanent scheme (continuous offer on the tourism market): flat rate of €825 per unit per year, payable quarterly. The owner may pass on a maximum of €4.72 per night per unit to guests.
- Occasional scheme (maximum 120 days a year): flat rate of €275 per unit per year, in force since 1 July 2025.
According to the Stad Oostende (bekendmaking 2026/019, April 2026), since 1 July 2025 the verblijfsbelasting has distinguished between permanent lets (flat rate of €825/year) and occasional lets limited to 120 days a year (flat rate of €275/year).
Note: the verblijfsbelasting is not a per-night tax; it is declared each year to the Stad Oostende, by 15 January at the latest. The cap of €4.72 excl. VAT per night and per unit applies to both schemes: it is the maximum the liable party may pass on to guests, not a tax owed to the city.
Owners covered by the Logiesdecreet (Flemish decree of 5 February 2016, in force since 1 April 2017, codex.vlaanderen.be) must register with Toerisme Vlaanderen and obtain their fire safety certificate (brandveiligheidsattest) before letting the property. The registration number received from Toerisme Vlaanderen must appear on all Airbnb, Booking and Vrbo listings.
How do you set and optimise your price for the summer?
The 5 steps to setting your price
- Estimate your market ADR using AirDNA Rentalizer on the property's exact address. This tool aggregates real platform data and gives a range of expected revenue by period.
- Set a base price slightly below the market median for the first few weeks, in order to generate your first reviews.
- Activate a dynamic pricing tool such as PriceLabs, which adjusts the nightly rate in real time according to competitor availability, local events and the booking window.
- Set a minimum stay suited to the season: 5 to 7 nights in July-August, 2 to 3 nights in mid-season, 1 to 2 nights in low season.
- Review the strategy every 90 days by comparing actual ADR and occupancy rate against your targets.
The actual gain from dynamic pricing depends on the property and its starting point: it is measured on your own track record, by comparing ADR and occupancy rate before and after activating it.
The Ostend property management offered by HOSTEA includes dynamic pricing management via PriceLabs, monthly reporting and ongoing listing optimisation. For an overview of the Belgian coast, see our guide to Belgian coast property management and our article on dynamic pricing in short-term rentals.
This article provides indicative market ranges. It does not replace a personalised estimate for your property or professional accounting or legal advice.
Do you want the optimal price for your property in Ostend?
We analyse your address on AirDNA and talk it through with you in 20 minutes.
Book a free callFAQ, letting in Ostend in 2026
What is the average nightly price in Ostend in summer 2026?
In July-August 2026 in Ostend, the indicative nightly rate is between €90 and €130 for a studio and between €130 and €180 for a two-bedroom property. These ranges vary according to location (seafront, centre, Mariakerke), listing quality and the booking window. Only an AirDNA estimate for your address gives a reliable figure for your specific property.
How many tourist overnight stays does Ostend record each year?
Ostend recorded 1,133,000 tourist overnight stays and 457,000 arrivals in 2024, according to Toerisme Vlaanderen (Kerncijfers 2025). It is the leading Flemish coastal municipality by volume of arrivals. This sustained year-round demand gives owners a more evenly spread seasonality than in other purely summer resorts.
What tourist tax do you have to pay in Ostend?
Since 1 July 2025, the verblijfsbelasting in Ostend has distinguished between two schemes: a flat rate of €825 per unit/year for permanent lets, and a flat rate of €275 per unit/year for occasional lets (maximum 120 days/year). The owner may pass on a maximum of €4.72 excl. VAT per night to guests (Stad Oostende, regulation of 27 April 2026). This is not a per-night tax: the annual flat rate is declared to the city by 15 January at the latest.
Is registration in the Flemish register mandatory to let in Ostend?
Yes. The Flemish Logiesdecreet (5 February 2016, in force since 1 April 2017) requires every owner letting tourist accommodation in Flanders, including in Ostend, to register with Toerisme Vlaanderen and to obtain a fire safety certificate. Without these documents, short-term letting is illegal. In Ostend, a planning permit (omgevingsvergunning) is also required for holiday letting, which the city no longer grants except in four RUP zones, pending its new municipal policy vision.
Is a fixed price or a dynamic price better in Ostend?
A dynamic pricing tool such as PriceLabs adjusts the price night by night according to demand, which a fixed price cannot do. In Ostend, with year-round demand, weekly adjustments (higher prices on Friday and Saturday, event-driven peaks) are particularly profitable. A fixed price only suits an owner who manages a very small volume of bookings themselves.
What is ADR and why does it matter when setting your price?
ADR (Average Daily Rate) is the average revenue per night let, before costs. It is the benchmark indicator for comparing your performance with the market. In Ostend, ADR varies according to season, location and property type. Tracking it monthly lets you adjust your pricing strategy and avoid underperforming against your direct competitors.
How does HOSTEA help owners in Ostend?
HOSTEA offers a complete Ostend property management service: management of Airbnb and Booking listings, pricing optimisation via PriceLabs, cleaning between stays, self check-in with a key lock box, and monthly reporting. Owners keep full visibility of their property without having to handle its day-to-day operational management.
Victor Timmermans
Founder of HOSTEA, short-term rental property management, Belgian coast
Victor Timmermans is the founder of HOSTEA, a property management company specialising in short-term rentals on the Belgian coast. He supports owners in Knokke-Heist, Ostend, Nieuwpoort and De Panne with the management, Logiesdecreet compliance and optimisation of their Airbnb and Booking properties.
Official sources
- Toerisme Vlaanderen, Toerisme in Kerncijfers 2025 (2024 data), toerismevlaanderen.be
- Stad Oostende, bekendmaking 2026/019, Verblijfsbelasting, municipal council regulation of 27 April 2026, oostende.be
- Logiesdecreet, Flemish decree of 5 February 2016, in force since 1 April 2017, codex.vlaanderen.be
- Statbel, Platform data in residential tourism, statbel.fgov.be
- AirDNA Rentalizer, Ostend market benchmark, airdna.co
Related articles
- Airbnb property management in Ostend, services and pricing
- Belgian coast property management, complete guide
- Dynamic pricing in short-term rentals
Last updated: 29 October 2026. Changelog: 29 October 2026, corrections after review. The Ostend tourist tax is described as an annual flat rate per unit rather than a per-night tax, based on the municipal regulation of 27 April 2026. Internal markers have been removed. The quantified dynamic pricing gain and the occupancy rate attributed to HOSTEA have been removed for lack of a source. Unsourced market ranges (share of annual revenue earned in July-August, seafront premium) have been removed. The number issued by Toerisme Vlaanderen is called a registration number. The FAQ mentions the planning permit required in Ostend. 15 June 2026: initial publication. Next recommended review: 15 September 2026 (Toerisme Vlaanderen 2025 data expected).