The half term school holidays begin on Friday afternoon. Schoolchildren in Fladers and those in Dutch-medium education in Brussels have one week’s holiday, while Walloon children and those in French-medium education in the capital get two weeks. School holiday periods are traditionally busy times for hoteliers at our coastal resorts. However, according to figures from the West Flemish Tourist Board Westtoer, this year bookings are down 14% compared with the spring half term school holidays last year.
During the spring half term break last year hotels at the coast had occupancy rates of 60%. However, last year’s spring half term holiday was two weeks later, increasing the chance that the weather might be good. There were many more early bookings as a result. Furthermore, during last year’s spring half term the weather was particularly good and this attracted many last-minute reservations too.
This year, the holidays fall earlier and the weather forecast is less stable. This has led to fewer bookings at coastal hotels. However, there is one clear exception: the first weekend of the holidays, when carnival parades take place in various coastal towns. 65% of the rooms at coast hotels are booked this coming Saturday night.
On Sunday carnival parades will go through the streets of Blankenberge, Heist en Oostduinkerke. On Tuesday evening there will also be an illuminated carnival parade at Heist, near Knokke. The carnival parade in Zeebrugge will take place on Saturday 21 February.
Valentine’s Day will also be marked by fireworks displays in Nieuwpoort and De Panne.