In 2023, the first phase of the expansion of the Marine Station Ostend opened its doors. By 2024, all remaining planned upgrades were finalized. VLIZ replaced the old residential building at the Slipwaykaai with a new construction that integrates seamlessly with the expanded Marine Station.
The brand-new office and event building located at the Marine Station Ostend (MSO) , operated by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ).
This new building spans two floors and meets the institute's rapid growth needs. The ground floor features a meeting room and a versatile space for meetings, as well as for public and educational activities of VLIZ. The first floor is fully dedicated to an open office layout. The outdoor area surrounding the new building underwent a makeover, accommodating public events and featuring a wadi for rainwater retention and infiltration into the ground.
The renovated historic bunker at the MSO site was transformed into a digital experience lab. This lab space enables scientists, educators, guides, and other users to make the invisible visible through innovative and immersive techniques. With this lab, VLIZ aims more than ever to introduce all layers of society to the fascinating diversity of the sea and sea research. In collaboration with the artist collective studio.POC, VLIZ developed the art installation "Uncertain Tides / Onzekere (ge)tijden" tailored for the experience lab. This interactive installation prompts visitors to contemplate the complexities of climate change and biodiversity loss. The bunker also houses the VLIZ biobank, a facility for storing biological samples used in the framework of the European LifeWatch research infrastructure.
Lastly, in 2024, the Marine Station Ostend expanded with a Science Harbor in the adjacent Visserijdok. The harbor serves as a docking point for the workboat Abbé Mann and the surface vessel 'USV Gobelijn'. A floating pontoon, coupled with an adjustable column mounted jib crane, enhances dock access as a marine testing environment for VLIZ's sensors and robotics. On May 30, 2024, Vice Minister-President of the Flemish Government and concurrently Flemish Minister of Fisheries, Hilde Crevits, officially inaugurated the VLIZ Science Harbor, workboat Abbé Mann, and surface vessel 'USV Gobelijn'. The establishment of the Science Harbor was supported by resources acquired under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR).
