Explore the Flemish Westhoek

You cycle through the open polder landscape of De Moeren, the reclaimed land that is partly located in Belgium and partly in France. In the Middle Ages, these rich agricultural lands were a swamp landscape that was reclaimed from the beginning of the seventeenth century. Later the area was flooded again and it was not finally drained until 1826.

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 increasingly became a tourist seaside resort from a fishing village. Now many visitors also come to the popular Plopsaland amusement park. Koksijde is known for its location in the dunes. In the Hoge Blekker nature reserve you will find the highest dune on the Belgian coast, measuring about 33 meters. In Koksijde you can learn more about a medieval abbey in Museum Van de Duinenabdij or Abdijmuseum Ten Duinen. It is a unique archaeological site and a very contemporary museum. You will also find a beautiful collection of religious silver.

You cycle through the dunes to Oostduinkerke. This is the only place in the world where shrimp are still caught on horseback, as was done until the mid-twentieth century. The horse fishermen are recognized as Flemish cultural heritage. Shrimp are still caught with manpower using trawl nets in Oostduinkerke. From Oostduinkerke you cycle inland. Veurne is located in a former salt extraction area. It was already a fortified town in the 9th century, which was surrounded by walls in the 14th century.

The Gothic buildings around the Grote Markt date from the 13th century, when the cloth trade brought Veurne wealth. In the Flemish town you will also find many 17th-century buildings in regional Renaissance style, built during the Spanish period. The Beauvoorde domain was inhabited from 1408. The castle has been burned, rebuilt and fallen into disrepair over the centuries. The current house was restored, furnished and extended in 1875. The furnishings are 17th century and the castle is surrounded by a French-English garden. You can visit the castle and you will find a heritage shop and a visitor center.