Belgian seaside resorts: Must-sees in royal De Panne
Ostend is the queen of the seaside resorts in Belgium, but the coast is dotted with appealing towns that deserve a closer look. In this series, Belga English presents four popular places by the water, each with their own character. Today: De Panne, a town with a royal past where the tourist is now king.
De Panne is Belgium’s westernmost coastal town, on the border with France. This is where the first Belgian king, Leopold I, first set foot on Belgian soil after sailing to Calais from England. His arrival is commemorated by the Leopold I Esplanade, which features a statue of him.
The town also has another royal link: the Belgian royal family lived there during the First World War, in the small part of the country that was not conquered by the Germans. In that period, De Panne was considered the “capital of unoccupied Belgium”.
These days, the tourist is king in De Panne. The obvious main attraction, the beach, is the country's widest. At low tide, it’s 425m wide, so there’s plenty of space for sunbathing, walking, playing, kite flying, horse riding and even land sailing.
Visitors to De Panne can also stretch their legs and clear their head at the largest consecutive dune massif along the coast, with 11km of walking trails: the Westhoek Nature Reserve.
Nearly all dune vegetation is represented in one unbroken dune landscape, so walkers are surprised again and again by the beauty of nature here. Some parts even feel like walking in a desert.
An ideal stop on long walks is the Westerpunt, an architectural work of art that connects the beach and the dunes. It offers 360-degree views along the dunes and Westhoek reserve.
More architectural gems can be found away from the beach in the Dumont neighbourhood, a protected villa district with more than 500 homes, many of them in the style of country cottages.
De Panne is also home to an array of alluring museums. In the tram museum, visitors cannot only learn more about the trams from the last century but also take a ride on one.
The Museum Cabour WOII and 2/4 Lansiers highlights military events during the Second World War that had a significant impact on the region and the specific history of the 2nd and 4th Lance Regiments. The Retro house De Viswinkel, a former fishmonger’s shop, shows off the town’s fishing history.
At the end of June, the Duinpanne visitor centre added an exceptional exhibit to its collection: a whale skeleton. The male orca, named Reveil, washed up on a stretch of beach between De Panne and Koksijde two years ago.
After scientists concluded their analyses, the skeleton went on show at the visitor centre, where it complements an interactive exhibition on ecology and the importance of the ocean, called Sea Change.
De Panne is also known for a major attraction for kids: the amusement park Plopsaland. Children are entertained by beloved Belgian children’s TV characters such as Plop the Gnome, Big & Betsy and Wizzy and Woppy. Next to it, the Plopsaqua park offers plenty of water fun.
#FlandersNewsService | Queen Mathilde takes part in the 5th edition of the AG Belgian Coast Walk event in De Panne, May 2024 © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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