Frequently Asked Questions

It is strongly recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance, as the number of tickets per time slot is limited due to the limited capacity of the Ensorhuis. You can easily do this via www.ensorhuis.be. By ordering your tickets, you are guaranteed a place!

Due to the limited space in the historic House, we can only admit a strict number of visitors per time slot. This is to ensure that everyone can enjoy a safe and pleasant visit.

We regularly organise temporary exhibitions in a separate exhibition space. A visit to the exhibition is included in a ticket to the Ensorhouse, but you can also visit the exhibition on its own. 

Tickets for this are available at the reception desk and you need to book a time slot in advance. What's more, if you have a Belgian museumpass, you can visit our exhibitions for free.

Tickets are sold at the reception desk as long as capacity allows. Once capacity has been reached, no more tickets can be sold. To be sure of your visit, we recommend that you reserve your ticket in advance via www.ensorhuis.be.

Bancontact/Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, iDeal, Giropay

You can find all rates on the following page.

Every visitor must present a ticket, including children under the age of 6 (even though admission is free for them).

If you are unable to purchase tickets online, we recommend using a recent version of another browser or a different device (e.g. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox) or contact us via our contact details. 

You can show your tickets on your smartphone, so you don't need to print the tickets.

We recommend to first check your spam-box. In case you can't find them, please send a mail to info@jamesensorhuis.be or present yourself directly to the reception desk of the Ensorhouse where our colleagues will help you. 

When you order tickets online, you will see the time slots and the number of available seats.

Green = more than 50% available, yellow = less than 50% available and red = sold out. 

The James Ensor House closes promptly at 6 p.m. The last available time slot is from 4.45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please take this into account when booking a ticket for the last time slot. A visit usually takes 1 to 1.5 hours. For the family trail, including the search for the fake Ensor, it is best to allow 1.5 to 2 hours. 

A ticket is only valid on the selected day and during the specified time slot. Please contact us at least 1 hour in advance if you realise you will be late. We can check whether you can still visit on the same day or exchange your ticket for another time of your choice.
 

A ticket is only valid for the selected day and time. If, due to exceptional circumstances, you are unable to visit, please contact us by email (info@jamesensorhuis.be) or telephone (+32 59 41 89 00). If you do so in time (at least 1 hour in advance), we can check whether we can exchange the tickets.

If the James Ensor House is unable to open due to circumstances beyond its control, you will receive an email with a credit note for the value of the ticket purchased.

Choose the ticket "museumpas" in our webshop. Please present your Museumpass on spot to verify the free admission. 

If you do not yet have a museumPASSmusées, you can purchase one at the reception desk. 
You can reserve a day and time slot in advance via our webshop by using the free “museum pass” ticket.

Please note: a newly purchased museumPASSmusées can be used immediately for two museum visits of your choice. After these two museum visits, it is important to register your museum pass online so that you can continue to enjoy the benefits.

An existing museumPASSmusées can also be renewed at our reception desk. 

The James Ensorhouse is opened from 10 am till 6 pm.

Closed on Mondays, except during Flemish school holidays and on Public Holidays. 

The James Ensor house is also closed on December 25th and January 1st. On December 24 and 31, the Ensorhouse closes at 5 pm. 

The James Ensorhouse is open on Public Holidays, except on December 25 and January 1. 

A visit takes approximately 1 to 1.5h. For the family tour, including the search for the Fake Ensor, you best take 1.5 - 2h into account. Please keep this in mind by booking your tickets (we close at 6 pm). 

You can find our offer here. 

Parking at the entrance to the James Ensor House is not possible. The nearest car parks are Parking Europacentrum and Parking Kursaal 2, 150 metres from the Ensor House. There are also a few parking spaces available for people with disabilities, and Ostend also has a number of (free) peripheral car parks. 

To reach the Ensor House by De Lijn bus, take Line 1 from Ostend station towards Marie-Joséplein. This bus stops at the stop near Expo & Kafie, located diagonally opposite the Ensor House. For route planning and exact travel times, more information is available at: https://www.delijn.be/en/.

No. As we do not have a cafeteria, there is a general ban on consuming food and drinks during your visit.

Unless otherwise stated, visitors may take photographs or film in the experience centre and Ensor's authentic home during opening hours for private use, without flash or tripod. In the museum space where temporary exhibitions are held, photography depends on the exhibition; it is not always permitted.

Free audio guides are available and included in your ticket. The information is available in Dutch, French, German, English and Spanish. For hygiene reasons, the devices are disinfected after each use.

No, dogs (and other pets) are not allowed in the James Ensor House, with the exception of assistance dogs and guide dogs. 

There is no Wi-Fi available in the James Ensor House. To take the accompanying Ensor Walk, you can use the “Free Wi-Fi Aan Zee” in the city centre.

The James Ensor House is fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, offering an almost identical route to other visitors. Seating is available during the visit. People with visual or hearing impairments can comfortably enjoy the entire visit thanks to audio guides with audio description, separate scrolling text devices and tactile elements. Companions of people with disabilities can obtain a free ticket with the European Disability Card. Adapted sanitary facilities are available. 

The collection is owned by the City of Ostend. If you would like to donate an item to the collection, please contact the James Ensor House using the contact details provided.

We do not offer valuation services, but focus exclusively on exploitation. For valuations, please contact a certified valuer.

Contact us at info@jamesensorhuis.be or +32 59 41 89 00 (Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and during Flemish school holidays (Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Consult our general terms and conditions here.