Bredene along the coast

Get to know the beautiful coast and the Poldervlakte in West Flanders. The route takes you from the coastal town of Bredene through long, connected dune zones. It is wonderful to cycle for miles in this green environment. Just below Bredene you have magnificent views over the North Sea. On the other side of the harbour you can see Ostend. In the Poldervlakte, as the area up to fifteen kilometres behind the Belgian coast is also called, you will pass through old picturesque polder villages such as Klemskerke and Houtave. The landscape here is flat and veined with a network of canals to drain the land. Below Blankenberge you cycle through the Uitkerkse Polders, the largest nature reserve in West Flanders. The soil here consists of a mixture of low-lying salt grasslands and higher-lying lush grasslands: the ingredients for a unique ecosystem with special plants and animals. Cycling between the meadows you will see drinking pools and beautiful reed beds along the canals. In the meadows you can see hundreds of courting meadow birds in the spring, such as the black-tailed godwit, lapwing and avocet. You will also pass through De Haan, the coastal town that is mainly known for its many beautiful villas from the Belle Epoque period. De Haan has traditionally been a real tourist town. Due to its favourable location on the coast, thousands of tourists are tempted here every year to seek out the sun, sea and beach. Major events take place here, such as the blessing of the sea in Wenduine, the Day of the Tourist, the Giant Festivals and the Vosseslag Festivals.