The Flemish CoastÂ
The Flemish coast is a diverse paradise, featuring 67 kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches, sea, and dunes, along with art, culture, culinary delights, history, shopping, surfing, and more. This North Sea coastline stretches from the Dutch border to the French border. The Coastal Tram, the longest tram line in the world, offers a four-day journey from east to west, starting in Knokke-Heist and concluding in De Panne.
The allure of the North Sea is hard to resist. Your adventure along the Flemish coast begins with a glimpse of the horizon, the refreshing salty air, and the crashing waves. Now that you have the essence, let’s embark on our journey of exploration, starting in...
Knokke-Heist
A fashionable seaside resort with the allure of a city
Knokke-Heist is a captivating destination, featuring hundreds of boutiques that range from delightfully simple to impressively exclusive. The prestigious flagship stores of top brands line the golden shopping of Lippenslaan, Dumortierlaan, and Kustlaan. However, a stroll through Knokke reveals even more, with numerous quirky art galleries and stunning villas scattered throughout the town. Just a hundred meters inland, you'll find charming villa quarters adorned with orange roof tiles, many of which proudly display nameplates—a tradition that has flourished in this seaside town for a century.
Beyond its elegance, Knokke boasts vast areas of untouched nature. For those eager to explore, a walk along the sea wall leads to the expansive Zwin Nature Park, a nature reserve that harmonizes with the tides and seasons, showcasing an incredible variety of flora and fauna. With extensive hiking trails, barefoot paths, and experiential sites, it's a perfect spot for nature lovers—don’t forget your binoculars! The Zwin Nature Park serves as an 'international airport' for migratory birds, attracting thousands each year to breed, winter, or forage. This nature park offers a unique perspective of the Flemish coast.
At Knokke train station, we board the Coastal Tram at its very first stop. This tram travels the entire length of the Flemish coast, covering 67 kilometres with 67 stops, making it the longest tram line in the world and an excellent way to explore the Flemish North Sea coast.
Surfing from pier to the fin de siècle
After this artistic experience, if you continue along the expansive beach, you'll arrive at Blankenberge. As you ascend the sea wall, an impressive structure comes into view. The Belgium Pier is a remarkable heritage site, stretching 350 meters and seemingly vanishing into the water. A stroll along this pier connects you with the North Sea, allowing you to savor the salty air, be swept away by the tides, and feel the elements' power. Enjoy breathtaking views in every direction as a refreshing sea breeze clears your mind.
If the weather permits, you might spot numerous surfers, as this is one of the most renowned surfing spots along the Flemish coast. Even when the sea is calm elsewhere, the waves here are often perfect for surfing.
Next, we venture into the city centre, which thrived during its golden years around the turn of the 19th to 20th century, much like other seaside resorts on the Flemish coast. This era, known as the fin de siècle or belle époque, signifies "the end of the century" and "the beautiful age," marked by peace, economic prosperity, and remarkable architectural achievements. In Blankenberge, this period saw the establishment of the Belgium Pier, the casino, and several grand hotels, along with many distinctive coastal villas in the dune area. The Belle Epoque Centre narrates the story of Blankenberge during this extraordinary, seemingly carefree time, featuring an interactive exhibition that immerses you in nostalgia through posters, postcards, fashion, photos, films, and stunning tile tableaux.
Having soaked in plenty of culture, it's time to treat your taste buds. Relax in a beach chair, feel the sand beneath your feet, and enjoy a refreshing Belgian beer as the sun sets over the North Sea.
Blankenberge
De Haan
Gem of the belle époque
A brief ride on the Coastal Tram will bring you to Wenduine, a district of De Haan. Once you step off, you'll encounter Benjamin, a large, whimsical sculpture of a little boy with donkey ears, gazing thoughtfully ahead. This is yet another remarkable piece in the Beaufort Sculpture Park.
Now, it's time to discover De Haan, a seaside resort renowned for its elegant Concessie villa quarter. Spanning 50 hectares between the sea and the tram line, this area features many distinctive coastal villas, offering stunning views that have attracted notable figures, including Albert Einstein, who spent a summer in Villa Savoyarde in 1933. He traveled to De Haan via the Coastal Tram from Ostend station, marking a significant moment in the town's history. The Concessie remains a protected landscape today, preserving its unique character.
After exploring this charming quarter, the Coastal Tram will take you just a few minutes to another highlight: the Duinbossen, or dune forests, one of the coastal area's green treasures. This 152-hectare domain features both open dune landscapes and expansive wooded dunes, making it a perfect spot for walking and playing, with the North Sea just a stone's throw away.
Ostend, known as "the Queen of seaside resorts," is home to Fort Napoleon, a historic fortress with a fascinating past. Built by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810 to protect against a potential British attack, it later served various roles, including as a barracks for the Belgian army and a refuge for French soldiers during the Franco-Prussian War. Throughout both World Wars, the Germans occupied the fort, which played a crucial role in coastal defense during WWI and served as barracks in WWII.
Visitors of all ages can explore the rich history of Fort Napoleon through engaging storytelling trails and exhibitions designed for children. After leaving the fort, the journey continues along the Flemish coast, leading to Ostend—a captivating blend of the fishermen's rugged life and a chic urban atmosphere, filled with art, culture, and stunning Art Nouveau architecture. Free ferries transport you to the historic fishing harbor, Visserskaai, where you can visit the 19th-century outdoor fish market, Vistrap, and sample fresh North Sea seafood, including the local delicacy known as "geirnoazen."
As evening falls, locals flock to the numerous restaurants, where hand-peeled brown shrimps and crispy shrimp croquettes are must-tries, alongside fresh fish and mussels. Ostend is rich in offerings, particularly in the realm of art, with James Ensor (1860-1949) as its artistic patron. A prominent figure in modern art, Ensor's unique style and humor are reflected in his works, many of which were inspired by his upbringing in Ostend. His legacy is celebrated at the James Ensor House, a museum that showcases his life and art, while Mu.Zee, the museum of modern and contemporary art, features a selection of his works alongside those of fellow artists Léon Spilliaert and Constant Permeke.
Ostend
Middelkerke
An extra shot of Beaufort and nature
Today, we depart from Ostend, either on foot or by tram. In Middelkerke, we quickly encounter a concentrated area of Beaufort, featuring three stunning artworks on a small stretch of beach. Among them is the striking yellow sculpture Olnetop, reminiscent of the North Sea's splashing waves, and Wim Delvoye's Caterpillar + Flatbed Trailer, which connects excavators with Gothic architecture. There's also the interactive piece I Can Hear It, featuring two giant horns resembling those of an old gramophone, inviting you to listen to the sounds of the sea, winds, and gulls. It's a remarkable outdoor mini-exhibition.
Just a short distance from this artistic trio lies the Warandeduinen, a 32-hectare nature reserve with diverse vegetation. Within it, you can explore the Warande Tower, which provides breathtaking views of the dunes, polders, and the North Sea. A brief walk from there leads you to Villa Les Zephyrs, a gem from the Belle Époque designed by Henry Van de Velde, a prominent figure in Art Nouveau.
The North Sea meets Flanders Fields
After this little gem, we jump on board the Coastal Tram again. You will notice that the tram suddenly deviates from the coastline for a little while. This is because of the Yser, which flows into the North Sea here. We arrive at Nieuwpoort with the river. This is both a seaside resort and part of Westhoek, an important battleground of the First World War. One part of Westhoek is known worldwide as Flanders Fields. You can learn more about these dark pages of our history in the Westfront Visitor Centre.
As we continue our journey, a giant golden turtle appears on the horizon. And he has a rider on his back. This is Looking for Utopia, another great piece of Beaufort Sculpture Park. And with that we arrive in the centre of Nieuwpoort. Not only is it a seaside resort, it also has a vibrant, up and coming city centre. Fashionistas can be found at the Havenpromenade and Albert I-laan. Weather permitting, you can enjoy a pleasant stroll along the sea wall and the many beach bars. And if you do, there’s no harm in treating yourself to an aperitif.
Nieuwpoort
Koksijde
The home of shrimp fishermen
A cold drink might get you in the mood for what’s next. The Coastal Tram takes us to Oostduinkerke, borough of Koksijde. This is where shrimp fishermen on horseback are at home. It is the only place in the world where a centuries-old tradition is still practised. At low tide you see sturdy draught horses appear on the long sandy beach. They are ridden by the fishermen, in their characteristic yellow coats. They wade through the surf with their dragnets, to catch the caviar of the North Sea: the brown shrimp. A tradition that has been part of the Flemish coast for seven centuries. It is no surprise that UNESCO recognises this use as intangible cultural heritage. With a bit of luck, you’ll get a unique culinary experience here. The delicacies are regularly cooked and sold on the beach. You won’t get them any fresher than that.
After being introduced to this piece of intangible heritage, we once again head into nature. We set off for De Hoge Blekker, a nature reserve where you will find the highest dune on the Flemish coast. If you have the time and energy for it, you can explore 18 beautiful hectares of dunes.
The perfect final chapter
Our journey is gradually reaching its conclusion. The Coastal Tram transports us to De Panne, the northwesternmost point of our country, adjacent to the French border. We have one final natural wonder to explore. At Westhoek Nature Reserve, you can admire the stunning dune landscape, and if you're fortunate, you might spot Scottish Highland cattle or Konik ponies wandering by. As you stroll from there to the shore to bid farewell to the North Sea, you'll encounter the last piece of the remarkable Beaufort Sculpture Park. Just a kilometer and a half from the French border, you'll find "Cast Away," a sculpture by Michael Rakowitz, which reflects on the history of Operation Dynamo during World War II, when allied troops were swiftly evacuated from Dunkirk.
De Panne
