Ostend is launching a new culinary festival centred on North Sea fish, called “Gone Fishing”. The festival aims to give the fishing industry a boost and encourage people to eat fish from the North Sea caught by our own Flemish fishing fleet. For three months, more than 30 restaurants are offering a menu featuring lesser-known fish species and at a reasonable, fixed price.
Ostend launches culinary festival ‘Gone Fishing’ to promote North Sea fish and local fisheries
Colin Clapson
Published:
From 1 March to 31 May 2026, Ostend will be celebrating fish species from the North Sea. 30 restaurants will offer a starter and main course for €49, €59 or €69. The menu will feature lesser-known fish species. ‘In this way, "Gone Fishing" aims to establish a connection between the fish caught by our own Flemish fishermen at sea and the fish offered by restaurants,’ explains Flemish fisheries minister Hilde Crevits (Flemish Christian democrat CD&V and pictured).
‘During a period when many people visit Ostend, we want fish from our region to be served. That is not always easy. Visitors often fall back on the classics e.g. salmon, which is quite tasty, but Flemish fishermen do not catch salmon, and it is not found in the North Sea.’
‘Sole can be found here, as can dogfish and red gurnard. It is important that the general public gets to know these species. I often hear people say that fish is expensive, but we also have local fish species that are cheap and very tasty.’
Cookbook and surprising products
The festival consists of more than just the restaurant scene. ‘For people at home, we are creating a recipe book in which 22 chefs reveal their own recipes from their own kitchens,’ explains Niels D'Hoedt of the Ostend Tourism Office. ‘Under the heading “The North Sea goes wild”, we challenge Ostend chefs and foodies to broaden their horizons.’
‘We ask them to come up with surprising products that include an ingredient from the North Sea. Think of a shrimp gin or seaweed ice cream, for example. In this way, we show that North Sea products are more than just fish or more than just fish in a dish.’
‘During the non-fiction book festival FAAR, inspiring talks and panel discussions will be held in which chefs, fishermen and marine biologists will highlight the North Sea as an inexhaustible source of knowledge and inspiration. From fascinating debates about the healing power of the sea to intimate conversations with chefs, a lot will be going on at “Gone Fishing”.’
The festival ends with festivities during the maritime festival Ostend at Anchor, which takes place from 28 to 31 May 2026. ‘The well-known maritime event is the perfect conclusion to a period in which pride in our own North sea and its products takes centre stage,’ organisers say.