Discover Ensor in Ostend and visit the James Ensor House
The James Ensor House (Vlaanderenstraat 29)
You can only understand James Ensor and his art if you visit Ostend. The house where he worked and lived from 1917 until his death has been preserved in its original state, so you can still visit it today.
Ensor walk
Download the app and take the brand-new Ensor-themed walk to visit all the locations that were significant to the life and work of James Ensor. You will be given information and will be able to see things for yourself at each of these places, using the latest high-tech. Young and older Ensor fans will love this walk.
Mu.ZEE (Venetian Galleries)
Mu.ZEE manages a collection of Belgian fine art ranging from 1880 to the present day.
Flemish masters in situ
With “Flemish masters in situ”, Openbaar Kunstbezit Vlaanderen and Toerisme Vlaanderen want to highlight the works of Flemish masters in special locations in Flanders and Brussels.
The work Fort Wellington, an oil on panel dating from 1876, can be admired here.
This painting on panel shows Fort Wellington. This was a brick fort erected in the dunes to the west of Ostend during the Napoleonic period. Back then, the city centre was a lot smaller and the dunes began where the Thermae Palace hotel now stands.
Today, this spot is occupied by the grandstand of the Wellington Racecourse.
Next exhibition: The skeleton motif in modern Belgian painting from Ensor and Rops to the present
From medieval dances of death to contemporary grotesque and erotic depictions—the human skeleton has been a powerful image in art for centuries.
This exhibition explores how Belgian artists, from James Ensor and Félicien Rops to Paul Delvaux and Wim Delvoye, have interpreted the skeleton motif in diverse and often surprising ways. Discover how this iconic symbol evolved from religious allegory to pictorial experiment and deeply personal expression.
Visit the James Ensor House
Take Ensor home with you
The museum shop sells gadgets, catalogues and all kinds of other things. You can only purchase souvenirs of your visit on location. Definitely worth a visit!
Accessibility
The entire James Ensor House is highly accessible for less mobile visitors. Naturally visitors with visual impairments can also comfortably visit the exhibition.
Schools
Do you learn in class about the theme of art or more specifically on James Ensor? Are you attending sea classes with your students and are you looking for an instructive activity? We are ready to welcome you with open arms!
The experience center offers an interactive journey of discovery to children and young people. Attention is paid to the person who was the artist: which themes did he choose and why? Which are his best-known works?
Groups
Would you like to visit The James Ensorhuis with a (friend) group or association? Are you looking for a suitable team day for your company? We have worked out a number of formulas, one of which certainly qualifies.
