The city of Oostende held a large-scale exercise on October 14, 2026, to test its flood surge procedure and ensure the efficiency of the mobile storm wall. The wall, stretching from the Kursaal to the Visserskaai, was fully erected in one and a half hours. This exercise is crucial for protecting the coast against potential flooding from sea-level rise and climate change, as part of the Flemish government's Master Plan for Coastal Safety.
The drill, which began at 8:00 AM, involved 62 employees from the City of Oostende, with cooperation from the Agency for Maritime Services and Coastal Affairs, Emergency Zone 1-Fire Brigade, and Local Police Oostende. The objective was to evaluate deployment time, required manpower, and the watertight placement of barriers. The last time the complete wall was erected was in 2023, and this exercise continues the planned three-year cycle.
The mobile storm wall, spanning over 900 meters and comprising approximately 450 support holders, 2,000 beams, and over 6,000 bolts, is a vital safety measure. It connects to fixed storm walls and barriers along the coastline and within the harbor area, ensuring residents' safety against a potential 60- or 100-year storm surge. All equipment was inspected and tested during the exercise.
The exercise was conducted without any real flood risk and also serves to train new staff who will be responsible for building the wall in emergency situations. In addition to the mobile wall between the Kursaal and Visserskaai, there are fixed storm walls in the Zeeheldenplein to Visserskaai zone, as well as in Mariakerke and Raversijde.
