The Belgian part of the North Sea

Location

The Belgian part of the North Sea covers approximately 3454 km², which is about the size of West Flanders. This is barely half a per cent of the surface of the North Sea.

Topography

Along the Belgian coast, the North Sea is shallow (average depth of about 20 m and maximum depth of 35 m on the Belgian continental shelf). The depth of the sea increases towards the Atlantic Ocean to about 200 m. The area is also characterised by a complex system of sand banks which are virtually parallel with the coast and some of which emerge from the water at very low tides.

Hydrography

Near the Belgian coast the current flows parallel. As it moves out into the open sea, the current turns to a SW-NE direction.

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