Small moments of happiness are what make your holiday or your day out complete.
And on the coast of Flanders, they’re guaranteed. Maybe while you’re are selling handmade beach flowers with the children for a handful of shells, or perhaps while bird-spotting or seeing the stork chicks on their nests in the Zwin Nature Park. Or when you come across a seal basking in the sun while on a beach walk, or while washing down a delicious serving of shrimp with some local beer ...
At the coast, there’s something for everyone. If art and culture are your thing, you can visit the installations of the Beaufort art festival all along the coastline, or discover the stunning history of Belgium’s fishing industry at the NAVIGO Fisheries Museum. Cyclists and hikers can enjoy hundreds of miles of pleasant, well-marked trails to the max. And if you’re mad about sports, you’ll certainly find something for you in one of the many sports clubs – why not take part in a taster session in beach sailing, windsurfing or even sea walking? And you can round off your day by enjoying a meal made with deliciously fresh fish – the only place you can experience fish this fresh is on the coast! And why not stay for the night in an authentic, atmospheric coastal hotel, or in a sustainable lodging amid the silence of the dunes, overlooking the sea?
Read on, get inspired and go on a microadventure of your own on the coast!
Landscape
The
Other
Beaufort
Picnicking in nature
Hand trawling for shrimp
Seal spotting
Adventure & sports by the sea
Atlantikwall Raversyde
Sailing at sea with Elise
James Ensor House
Westfront Nieuwpoort
Breathtaking
LOCATION AND HOW TO GET THERE
The North Sea is Belgium’s biggest nature reserve. Together with the beach, the dunes and the polders, it forms one large ecosystem that is dominated by the wind and the water.
Every year, millions of people come to visit Belgium’s 67 kilometres of coastline and its ten municipalities – from De Panne just next to the French border to Knokke-Heist on the border with the Netherlands.
Travelling to the coast is also extremely easy. If you’re coming by car, you can take the E40 for Ostend and the western section of the coast and the N49 for the eastern section of the coast. And if you’re travelling by train, you can go to Ostend, Blankenberge, De Panne, Koksijde, Zeebrugge or Knokke-Heist. When travelling up or down the coast, the Coast Tram is ideal. It runs between Knokke-Heist and Adinkerke (a sub-municipality of De Panne), and at 67 kilometres in length, it is the longest tramline in the world. The entire journey takes 2 hours and 20 minutes and is an experience in itself.
KNOKKE-HEIST
ZEEBRUGGE (BRUGGE)
BLANKENBERGE
NORTH SEA
THE COAST FLANDERS
Nature
Landscape park in the Zwin Region – the Zwin Nature Park
The Zwin is the name of a sea arm that connected Bruges to the North Sea in the Middle Ages. Since 2023, the surrounding region – partly in Belgium and partly in the Netherlands – has been recognised as a landscape park. There, you can find peace and quiet and vast landscapes, as well as charming villages and towns. It’s a wonderful place to go hiking or biking. And if you enjoy water recreation, you’ll find an activity for you too – not only at sea, but also on the many canals that cut through the landscape.
One place you definitely shouldn’t miss is the Zwin Nature Park, a flat plain where water from the North Sea flows in twice a day. The tides create a unique haven for wildlife where the land meets the water. There, you will find unusual, salt-loving plants but most of all, lots and lots of birds – billions of them every year. Some of them live there all year round, while others overwinter there or use the area as a stopping-off point on their migratory journey. At the visitors’ centre, you’ll learn all about migratory birds and the Zwin
in a playful, accessible way. After that, you can follow the hut trail, a short walk past huts offering all kinds of activities. Be sure to climb up the stork tower – you’ll come face to face with storks on their nest! Venture to the top of the panorama tower and you’ll be treated to a beautiful view of the surrounding nature, and from the viewing centre, you can use binoculars to spot the many birds on the Zwin Plain.
The Zwin Nature Park is also accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. They have a guide for the blind and visually impaired,.... There are also all-terrain wheelchairs available so you can fully enjoy the nature park.
Flanders’ oldest nature reserve can be found in the westernmost corner of Belgium, on the border with France. It includes the largest continuous body of dunes in our country. Come along and experience the tranquillity, let the kids play around to their hearts’ content in the roaming zone and enjoy the landscape, which looks different in each season. Maybe you’ll also come face to face with one of the Scottish highland cattle or a wild Konik horse!
One of the highlights is climbing up to the top of the Westerpunt monument, which was voted the Most Beautiful Place in West Flanders in 2025.
The Hoge Blekker dune
At 33 metres high, the Hoge Blekker dune in Koksijde is the highest dune on our coast. In the past, it used to be a beacon for sailors, who could see its white crown shining from afar (which is called ‘blekken’ in the local dialect). It’s definitely well worth a visit!
The IJzer Estuary Nature Reserve
In the IJzer Estuary Nature Reserve, the fresh water of the river IJzer merges with the salt water of the North Sea. There, you’ll find a special, natural environment consisting of mudflats, salt marshes, dunes, beach and polders. A hiking and biking trail traverses this area of natural beauty and information panels along the way tell you all about this special nature reserve and its inhabitants. During the school holidays in Flanders, you can go into the nature reserve with a nature guide. But be sure to bring a tall pair of boots along with you, because you’ll probably get your feet wet as you walk through the mud flats and salt marshes.
• Dune forests between Wenduine and Bredene (a landscape alternating between dunes and forests and idyllic hiking trails)
• The Uitkerkse Polder between Blankenberge and Zuienkerke (a birds’ paradise amid the tranquillity hinterland of the Coast)
• Duinpanne in De Panne
A WHOLE DAY ON A MICRO-ADVENTURE
BEAUFORT TRIENNIAL –
BEAUFORT
SCULPTURE PARK
The Flemish coast, that’s sun, sea, nature and... art. Every three years, you can visit Beaufort Triennial, and under the name Beaufort Sculpture Park, 52 works from previous editions of the event have found a permanent home along the coastline. The works themselves are contemporary sculptures that you can visit at any time. There are four cycle routes that link together the various works that form the Beaufort Sculpture Park. Each coastal municipality also has a mapped walking route linking the artworks together. The Coast Tram is also an easy way to travel from one work of art to another.
PICNICKING IN NATURE
Picnicking on the beach and in the dunes is great, but if you’d prefer not to get sand between your sandwiches, you can also go to about a dozen picnic benches and picnicking spots all along the coast. Each of them is located in a green setting, is practical and comfortable, and what’s more, you’ll find them close to the intersections of hiking and cycling paths. And your simple picnic will soon become a feast if you add in some tasty treats bought from local producers.
HAND TRAWLING FOR SHRIMP
You may have seen them at work –fishermen in wading suits pulling a net through the surf to catch shrimp. It’s called ‘hand trawling’. Fancy giving it a try yourself with your friends, your colleagues or your group? This is the place!
SEAL SPOTTING
Two species of seals are found on the Belgian coast – the common seal and the grey seal. If you’d like to see them in real life, you’ve come to the right place. They often come onto the beach or into the harbour to take a rest. For their well-being, it’s very important that they are able to relax undisturbed, so always stay at least 30 metres away!
On the look-out for adventure, or do you prefer something a little calmer? On the coast, you can always find a sport that suits you. On the water, many different sports are available – sailing, surfing, kiting, kayaking, rafting, sea walking or aquawalking and so on. The beach clubs are a great starting point and you’ll find them everywhere along the coast. If the sea is a bit too rough for your taste, you can also go stand-up paddleboarding on the Spaarbekken in Nieuwpoort or go packrafting on the inland waters. But if getting wet is not your thing, you can try out a beach sport such as beach kiting, beach sailing, horseback riding or beach volleyball. Entertainment guaranteed!
ATLANTIKWALL RAVERSYDE
A unique place full of history overlooking the sea.
SAILING AT SEA WITH ELISE
Sailing on the luxury yacht Elise is a unique experience on the North Sea, departing from Ostend, Nieuwpoort or Zeebrugge aboard a 20 metre, luxury sailing yacht. You can help sail the vessel yourself or simply sit back and enjoy the trip...
JAMES ENSOR HOUSE
Why not make a visit to the actual home and workplace of the artist James Ensor, where he lived and painted until his death in 1949? Nowadays, it’s an atmospheric experiential museum that brings Ensor’s world back to life.
WESTFRONT NIEUWPOORT
Westfront Nieuwpoort is an interactive visitor’s centre under the King Albert I monument that tells the story of the strategic submerging of the IJzer Plain during World War I. The story is packed full of personal testimonies, authentic objects and atmospheric art.
BREATHTAKING VIEWS
Seen from far above, the view of the Coast is even more impressive. Do you dare to climb the Westerpunt in De Panne, the pier in Blankenberge, the Warande Tower in Middelkerke, the lighthouse in De Haan and/or the Spioenkop in Wenduine?
Accessible Coast
THE COAST IS FOR EVERYONE!
Inclusive beach experiences
Everyone can enjoy the beach thanks to 4 Example on Tour. They deliver adapted beach wheelchairs to the beach or nature area of your choice.
In several coastal communities, you can also find electric wheelchairs and assistants are at hand.
Experiencing the Coast Actively
It’s never boring at the Coast, but what’s accessible? A lot! Accessible activities, museums, must-see locations or would you rather brave the waves during your visit?
After a day soaking up the fresh sea air, there are plenty of accommodations and restaurants where you can have a great time.
Staying overnight along the coast
B&B
Armalot by
Julia in De Panne
A small and charming B&B, where a wonderful welcome and a culinary breakfast await!
Rewind in Oostduinkerke
Situated on Astridplein in the heart of Oostduinkerke, where you may come across the shrimp fishermen on horseback.
Blauwe Huis in Nieuwpoort
Enjoy your stay in style in a 100-year-old mansion in the historic centre of Nieuwpoort.
Bonk in Westende
Fancy spending the night in the dunes, overlooking the sea and waking up in the morning to the murmur of the waves and the light glistening on the water? All that is possible at BONK Suites in Westende.
Silt in Middelkerke
The contemporary-looking Silt building is the focal point of Middelkerke. It houses a four-star hotel with 73 luxurious rooms, all with sea views – as does the wellness area, by the way. Nowhere else in Belgium can you sleep any closer to the sea than here!
Cabanes d’Ostende
In a hidden garden in Ostend are 9 luxury cabins surrounding a swimming pond, with a wellness island. Your electric cargo bike will get you to the city centre or the beach in no time. Les Cabanes d’Ostende is ideal for couples or families with children.
Upstairs Hotel
Upstairs Hotel in Ostend is a place with a modern feel where world travellers, city trippers, artists, creatives or simply the people from next door come together. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and you can book a room there for an affordable price.
Thermae Palace in Ostend
The Thermae Palace Hotel exudes history and grandeur. In 1933, it opened its doors as one of the most luxurious spas of the era. Today, it is a characterful hotel on the beautiful sandy beach of Ostend. Enjoy the original belle époque and art deco elements, as well as its modern luxuries.
Casa Sandy in Bredene
An idyllic place to blissfully unwind close by the pristine beach at Bredene.
Hotel des Brasseurs in De Haan
De Haan was developed as a tourist destination around 1900 and is the best-preserved example of belle époque architecture on the coast. The Hotel des Brasseurs also dates from that time. In 2023, it underwent a major renovation and was awarded four stars for its successful combination of historic grandeur and modern luxury.
Beach Palace in Blankenberge
A view of the sea, five stars, excellent service and affordable.
Holiday Suites in Zeebrugge
All the facilities you could want within walking distance of the beach and the tram.
Zaelig Hotel in Knokke-Heist
A glorious establishment with a heated indoor pool, located just outside the bustling seaside town of Knokke-Heist.
Shrimp fishermen
NAVIGO Fisheries Museum
The NAVIGO Fisheries Museum in Koksijde is dedicated to the fishermen from here and their long and fascinating history. Miraculous fish catches in World War II, boys of twelve who risked their lives sailing to Iceland, the hard and the lonely life of the fishermen’s wives... These and much more are waiting for you to discover. Be sure to say hello to Valentine the sperm whale, too!
Demonstration sessions from the Shrimp fishermen on horseback
Perhaps you’ve already seen shrimp fishermen on horseback at work in the surf? This tradition on Belgium’s coast has been recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and Oostduinkerke is a good place to spot them. They fish for shrimp there all year round, but from April to October you can also go along to one of their demonstrations. Sometimes, they even cook the catch right there on the seawall at the end.
Fresh grey shrimp caught that day – a true delicacy that’s also called the caviar of the North Sea. The shrimp are landed at the port no more than 24 hours after being caught. On board, they are boiled as quickly as possible, following an ancient and precise process. That’s what gives them their unique flavour and crunch. They’re great to eat from your hand, in a shrimp croquette or tomato shrimp or as part of a delicious fish recipe!
Ostend oysters
In the Spuikom in Ostend, the Puystjens family cultivates Belgium’s only type of oyster with great skill and passion. You can taste them in their seafood bar or in the better restaurants in Belgium or you can buy them at their fish shop called De Oesterput
Fishmongers
Every day, fishermen land their catch at the North Sea ports. Just a few hours later, you can buy those super-fresh fish, crustaceans and molluscs from the fishmongers on the coast. They use their knowledge to select only the very best so that you can conjure up the tastiest fish dishes on your plate. They’re also happy to help you by providing recipes and advice.
North Sea Chefs
The North Sea Chefs are Belgian chefs who shine a light on local, seasonal seafood and use creative recipes to promote the bycatch from our fishing boats. That is our chefs’ way of preventing overfishing and making fishing more sustainable. Why not book yourself a table at one of their establishments? Not only will it be a treat for you, but you’ll be helping protect nature too!
Visiting a brewery or tasting a coastal wine may not be the first things that come to mind when planning a trip to the coast. And that’s a shame, as some interesting brewers are at work in the area, often in unusual locations. And now, the first wine is also under production at the coast. Some tips:
• The dunes of Koksijde were once home to a powerful Cistercian abbey. One of the abbey farms, Ten Bogaerde, is still standing today. The farm’s former pigsties are now home to the Saint-Idesbald brewery. Its cosy café – with terrace – offers a view of the brewing equipment, and of course you can sample the house beers there too. On the same site, you will also find the restaurant Mondieu and Ten Bogaerde arts centre, which is highly recommended for art lovers.
• In the heart of Ostend, you’ll find ‘t Koelschip, a small but trendy brewery that experiments with ingredients and brewing methods, including spontaneous fermentation. That also explains its name, by the way – a coolship being the type of installation you need to brew beer. Not to be missed by adventurous beer lovers! Be sure to plan a brewery tour with a tasting too!
• Jus de Mer is a craft brewery just a stone’s throw from the beach at Middelkerke that brews beer with passion, tradition and local pride.
• Vitse Boydens Wine Estate: Its proximity to the sea, the sandy clay soil, plenty of hours of sunshine and constant coastal winds create a unique maritime terroir that helps define the fresh, clean style of its coastal wines.
3 bucket list
1 EXPERIENCES
Coastal Walking Route
A top tip for hikers: between De Panne and Het Zwin – from the French to the Dutch border –runs a 103-kilometre-long GR Coastal Trail. The route will take you through dunes, forests, nature reserves, parks, seaside towns and, of course, along the seafront. Local volunteers selected the most charming trails and provided the markings. The result: an extraordinary hike that allows you to experience for yourself that the coast is so much more than just beaches. You can complete each stage of the hike in whatever way you want and the nearest stop of the Coast Tram is never far away. A great many hotels, restaurants and shops are available along the entire route.
Good to know: the Coastal Trail is designed to be as accessible as possible. Despite the paths being unpaved or semi-paved in several places, the trail still offers wonderful walks. In addition, various facilities can be found along the trail.
Sea sparkle
Picture the scene – you’re walking through a puddle on the beach and suddenly you see the water glowing wonderfully blue. That is the work of the sea sparkle, a species of luminous alga. To create its blueish glow, it uses exactly the same mechanism that causes glowworms to light up. If you’ve seen it once, you won’t forget it any time soon, because it’s a truly special experience! You’re most likely to see sea sparkle in spring and summer, in quiet, shallow pools on the beach. Good luck!
Beach flowers
The Belgian coast has a tourist tradition you won’t find anywhere else – children making flowers from crepe paper and selling them to other children. And the way that they pay for them is also unique – with shells! How that tradition originated, no-one knows, but it has been around since at least the 1920s. In 2021, it was officially recognised as intangible heritage of Flanders. You should definitely give it a try if you haven’t already done it yourself: clearly mark out an area of sand for yourself, stick your flowers in the sand, and wait for your first customer. And take an extra bucket along with you to collect all of the shells, especially if your child drives a hard bargain!
FOR WALKERS & HIKERS: WALKING ON THE COAST
Walkingonthecoast
Along the Belgian coast, there are literally dozens of hiking trails, each with its own theme, and every one of them is worth following. Short or long? Easy or tricky? Every hiker will find a route that suits him or her the best.
Is the Coastal Route too long? Then why not opt for the Flanders Finest Hiking Route: the Westhoek Walking Route or a Station-to-station walk:
Westhoek Walking Route
The Westhoek Walking Route will take you through the largest contiguous expanse of dunes on the Flemish coast. The Westhoek Walking Route winds its way through woodland and dunes, past works of art in the landscape, with the salty sea air and murmur of the North Sea always in the background. Your walk will take you through the impressive De Westhoek nature reserve, with a whopping 345 acres of natural beauty. There, right on the border with France, culture and nature blend together effortlessly. Along the way, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the cross-border dune landscape. And on clear days, even the vast fields of the Westhoek will sparkle on the horizon. Highly recommended for those who love peace, space and a touch of adventure by the sea.
Station-to-station walk
A Station-to-station walk has a station as its starting and finishing point. So you arrive by train, can immediately start your walk without a care
in the world, and when you’re done, you can take the train back home again. The De Panne - Nieuwpoort Station-to-station walk is 25 kilometres long and traverses a mosaic of dunes, dune grasslands and dune forests. The route that it follows gives you a good impression of what life on the Flemish coast used to be like. Along the way, you’ll also pass by works of art that form part of the Beaufort Sculpture Park. And at the end of the hike, at the IJzer estuary, there’s even a good chance of spotting seals!
Lost Ports of the Zwin
In the Middle Ages, a sea arm called the Zwin connected Bruges to the North Sea. Along the Zwin there were also a few ports, but they have long since disappeared. The 58-kilometre Lost Ports of the Zwin starts and ends in Bruges and introduces you to that special history. Along the way, virtual reality viewing points will show you what the surroundings used to look like.
Cycling on the coast
Cycling is an excellent way to explore the surroundings near the place where you’re staying, or just to spend a pleasant day out. A network of cycle paths runs along the entire coast. Starting in April, there will be an updated network with additional intersections to make your route even more engaging. Plotting out your route is something you can do very easily yourself. Don’t have your bike with you? Then you can always rent one Here are some tips to get you started!
Need more of a challenge?
Green Ribbon Ostend is a 31-kilometre bicycle ride in and around Ostend. Along the way, you’ll pass by defence installations from World War II, De Zwaanhoek polder nature reserve, works of art belonging to the Beaufort Sculpture Park, and the beach and the sea, of course.
Iconic cycle routes
Iconic cycle routes can be found throughout Flanders. They bring together the best of what Flanders has to offer in terms of cycle routes and are structured around themes. Four of those routes pass along the coast. The 100-kilometre long Western Front Route 14-18 immerses you in the history of the Great War. The Coastal Route is 100 kilometres long and follows the coastline from the French to the Dutch border, all on comfortable cycle paths. You will need a few days to complete the 342-kilometre-long Art Cities Route. It starts off in Ostend, arrives in Brussels and stops in Flemish art cities along the way, such as Ghent, Antwerp, Mechelen and Leuven. And for those for whom that is not enough, we have the Flanders Route: it is 962 kilometres long and includes many of the highlights from the Iconic Bike Routes. And some of these also pass by the coast, of course!
MORE INFORMATION nature@visitflanders.com www.visitflanders.com
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