From De Panne through the Flemish Westhoek

This route takes you through the Westhoek, the West Flemish area that borders France and the North Sea coast. You make a round trip from the seaside resort of De Panne through wide fields and open countryside and you cycle through the small towns around Veurne and via the seaside resort of Koksijde-Bad back to your starting point. De Panne is the westernmost town in Belgium and the southernmost seaside resort on the Belgian coast. From the second half of the 19th century, De Panne evolved from a fishing village into a touristic seaside resort. Now many visitors also come to the popular amusement park Plopsaland. Halfway through your route you can take a look at Open Air Museum Bachten de Kupe Vzw. The museum is a reconstructed small farming village and gives a picture of 17th century life in the Westhoek. The Westhoek is a varied area with wooded ridges, polders and fertile fields, where it is wonderful to cycle. The River Yser flows right through the area. You can view no less than 46 old and completely authentic buildings in the open-air museum. Koksijde is known for its location in the dunes. In nature reserve De Hoge Blekker you will find the highest dune of the Belgian coast, of about 33 meters. In Koksijde you can learn more about a medieval abbey in Museum Van de Duinenabdij or Abbey Museum Ten Duinen. It is a unique archaeological site and a very contemporary museum. You will also find a beautiful collection of religious silver. Art lovers can visit Museum Paul Delvaux. The museum is dedicated to the work of the surrealist master Paul Delvaux, the'artist of dreams and poetry\\\'. Delvaux was often associated with Belgian surrealism, but wanted to create'a poetic realism\\\' himself. With this he reached an unprecedented height and international fame.