This study presents the first genetic linkage map for the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis. AFLP and 20 microsatellite markers were genotyped in a three-generation pedigree comprised of 2 grand-parents, 2 parents and 92 progeny. Chi-square goodness of fit tests revealed high segregation distortion, which was significant for 32.8% of markers. Sixteen microsatellites and 235 AFLPs (170 AFLPs type 1:1 and 65 AFLPs type 3:1) were used to build sex-specific linkage maps using CriMap software. The first parental map (P1) consisted of 104 markers grouped in nine linkage groups, spanning 471.2 cM with an average spacing of 4.86 cM. The second parental map (P2) consisted of 117 markers grouped in ten linkage groups (which equals the haploid chromosome number), covering 450.0 cM with an average spacing of 4.21 cM. The estimated coverage of the genome was 82.4% for the P1 map and 84.2% for the P2 map. Eight linkage groups that were probably homologous between the two parents contained the same microsatellites and 3:1 AFLPs (segregating through both parents). Distorted markers were not randomly distributed across the genome and tended to cluster in a few linkage groups. Sex-specific differences in recombination rates were evident. This first generation genetic linkage map for O. edulis represents a major step towards the mapping of QTL, such as resistance to bonamiasis, a parasitosis that has drastically decreased populations of flat oysters since the 1960's.