Belgian Coastal Tram
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Coast_Tram

Has anyone done this recently? What was your experience? How much time does it merit?

Thanks.

If you do a search on Fodors for 'Belgian coast' you will find a couple of threads on this - late last year there was a lot of discussion about the tram.

Lavandula

I don't think it's very special. For us, Belgians, it's just an easy means of transportation between coastal towns. Many seniors ride the tram to spend their day if the weather isn't too good.
The tramline is 67 km long and there are 69 stops. Total journey time from Knokke to De Panne is 2 hrs 23 mins. Although it is a coastal tram, you don't often get to see the coast en route. It is just a small stretch, from Middelkerke to Oostende, that the tram rides on the beach boulevard with a view on the northsea and the beach.
This year the Kusttram celebrates its 125th birthday. There's a special program throughout the year with exhibits of oldtimer trams, history, etc. and this in various coastal towns. Might be interesting.
http://125jaarkusttram.delijn.be/infofolders.asp?l=en

The coast tram is a perfect and lazy way to discover the different aspects of the Flemish coastal landscape. The tram line passes along the sea and the beach, as well as through the dunes and the polders. Small towns and larger cities alternate.
Also interesting to know is that you can take a bicycle with you for a little 2 euro.

I have taken this vestige of Belgium's once vast Vicinal inter-urban tram lines several times - and BicycleFriends has put it perfectly - an off-beat thing to do but not if you do it IMO at the expense of a day in Bruges, Gent or Antwerp.