North Sea windmill tour from Blankenberge: 30km boat trip

Ride out to the windmills and watch the turbines from the deck

A 2.5-hour boat tour from Blankenberge port to Thorntonbank, 30 km into the North Sea, where you see offshore wind farms up close from the water. A professional skipper leads the trip in English, French or Dutch, and an interactive explanation of how the windmill parks work happens before departure at a harborside café.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sea trip to Thorntonbank wind farms

• Attend interactive explanation at Brasserie Steiger 18
• Depart from Blankenberge port by Water-Taxi
• View Belgium Pier from the water
• Travel 30 km to Thorntonbank windmill park
• Observe windmill parks providing green energy

The experience

You leave from Blankenberge's working port: no long drive needed, and public transport reaches it easily. The Water-Taxi departs for open sea, passing Belgium Pier on the way out to Thorntonbank, where the massive offshore wind farm sits 30 km from shore. From the boat deck you see the turbines at scale, turning in the wind and feeding power back to families across Flanders. The trip takes 2.5 hours total, and bottled water is provided for the crossing.

Before you board, there's a 30-minute interactive session at Brasserie Steiger 18 on Havenplein, the harborside square, where the skipper walks through how the windmill parks work and what you'll see once you're out there. The guide speaks English, French or Dutch, so the explanation lands in your language. A certified skipper runs the boat, and the open-water crossing is the heart of the experience: you're on the deck watching the farms grow larger as you approach, not watching from a distance or through a screen.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• professional and certified skipper.
• interactive pre-departure briefing about the wind farms.
• live guide in English, French or Dutch.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 14:00

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (7 to 15 years) · Child (under 7)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, French and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Water-Taxi

Is this one for you?The boat leaves from Blankenberge port, reachable by public transport, so you don't need a car or a long transfer to start the trip. If you're staying in the coastal towns or arriving by train, this settles the logistics: you walk to the harbor and board.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 15 years); Child (under 7).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How do I get to the departure point in Blankenberge if I don't have a car?

Public transportation options are available near the port of Blankenberge, where the Water-Taxi leaves from. The interactive briefing happens at Brasserie Steiger 18 on Havenplein, also in the harbor area and walkable from the main transport hub.

What exactly happens during the 30-minute briefing before the boat leaves?

The skipper gives an interactive explanation of how the offshore wind farms work and what you'll see once you're out on the water. It takes place at Brasserie Steiger 18 on the harborside, and the guide speaks English, French or Dutch depending on the group.

How far out to sea does the boat go, and what's the water like on the crossing?

Thorntonbank sits 30 km from Blankenberge in open sea, so you're traveling into the North Sea proper. The trip is 2.5 hours round-trip, and bottled water is provided. The crossing itself is the main event, with the windmill park visible from the boat deck as you approach.

Is this tour suitable if I have mobility issues or health concerns?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. However, it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health, as the open-water crossing and boat movement may not be appropriate for these conditions.