Het James Ensorhuis (The James Ensor House Ostend)

Oostende is your destination if you want to wander through the mind of James Ensor (1860-1949). This house was indeed the operating base of the world-famous painter from 1917 onwards. This is where he lived and worked. His aunt and uncle’s shell and souvenir shop on the ground floor has been carefully reconstructed. While the first floor serves as a documentation centre, the second floor displays the artist’s salon studio. This space is so moving that you immediately forget that you’re looking at reproductions rather than original works. The Ensor House is closed since November 5th, 2017. Reopening will be in the autumn of 2019, after finishing the constructions of the Ensor visitor centre.