Leopold Park is a five-hectare landscaped park in the centre of Ostend, laid out in 1870 in the English picturesque style with ponds, tree-lined paths, and the ornate bandstand that still hosts concerts in summer. The famous flower clock at the park's edge is a Belgian civic institution; the flower arrangements are changed regularly and the clock keeps accurate time through a battery mechanism beneath the planted face.
The park is genuinely used — dog walkers, joggers, children, and pensioners with newspapers occupy it from morning to evening. It connects to the adjacent Maria Hendrikapark (locally known as 't Bosje — the wood), which extends to 45 hectares of trees, fishponds, pedal boats, and walking paths. Bike rental is free in the Mariahendrikapark; it is one of the better picnic spots on the coast.