In the Albatrosstraat itself, a stone's throw from the flat, you can find the Fishermen's Chapel. In 1854, pastor Nounckele had a neo-Gothic chapel built in the dunes along the fishermen's road that led from the northern village to the beach. The road was extended some time later from Gravestraat and renamed Breidelstraat (today's Vuurtorenstraat).
The chapel was initially named la chapelle des vœux, in English 'the chapel of sighs'. The fishermen's chapel soon became a household word in Heyst and the surrounding area for sea fishermen and family members who came to ask for protection or to seek consolation and strength from Our Lady Mary in times of loss.
In 1868, the chapel had to be demolished to protect the fragile dunes. In 1891, four nuns of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, bought a plot of land on the edge of the dunes from the "Société Anonyme de Heyst-sur-mer" for 200 francs (5 euros). In 1892, the new oratory was built there for 3,500 francs.
The chapel was repaired in 1927 and expanded to include a small chapel behind with a statue of Saint Theresa and a memorial stone. This is also when the text was added: Hier is 't Visscherskapelletje Oprichten in de duinen door E.H. Nounckele Pastor en C. Bassens Reeder Anno 1892 Hersteld en Verfraaid annis 1927-1928.
In 1975, the original Our Lady of the Sea was stolen in broad daylight. Heistener Jos Ackx made an exact copy of the original statue, which was solemnly inaugurated on 1 November 1975. At the same time, a commemorative plaque was placed on the façade with the caption "Visserskapel 1854 - Heyst Leeft" (Fishermen's Chapel 1854 - Heyst Lives).
The chapel itself includes 27 lifebuoys and 35 frames as a testimony and devout remembrance of lost relatives at sea. The fishermen's chapel still stands in the same place, has been historical heritage since 1985 and was restored again in 2016.
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