Belgium’s seaside resorts: Must-sees in elegant De Haan
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 Haan, a graceful town with a surprisingly low skyline.
Those arriving at De Haan, perhaps at the charming historic tram station, will immediately notice the absence of the high-rise buildings that generally dominate the coastline. Instead, visitors can wander through winding lanes full of picturesque cottage-style villas in the Concession district.
This district was developed from 1889, when the Belgian government granted a 90-year lease – or concession – on this 50-hectare plot of land.
The villas were built according to a predetermined urban planning pattern and strict regulations. In 1995, the district was protected as a village landscape.
The most famous resident of the district was Albert Einstein, who lived in the villa Savoyarde for half a year in 1933 after fleeing Nazi Germany.
In De Haan, Einstein met up with friends such as the Belgian painter James Ensor and the British writer Aldous Huxley. A statue of the physicist was placed on a bench in the district to commemorate his stay.
Away from the centre, several original vantage points offer wonderful views of the sea on the one hand and the woods and hinterland on the other hand.
The Spioenkop, a look-out pavilion in the form of a red and white cabin, was built on the second-highest dune on the Belgian coast, reaching a height of 31m. This dune was long used as a strategic observation post by the military and customs.
The lighthouse in De Haan is actually a work of art created by the Belgian artist Guillaume Bijl, who died in June this year.
It’s a classic example of a situation installation, typical of the oeuvre of Bijl, who always aimed to show something fictional in reality itself. But it’s also an ideal spot to look with fresh eyes at the sea, beach and dunes.
While De Haan is charming the whole year through, it looks especially elegant on 2 August, when the Trammelant festival takes place.
The festival brings the grandeur of the early 1900s, the belle époque or golden age, back to life in the villa district. Re-enactors dress up in historical costumes and visitors can admire vintage cars, bicycles and carriages.
#FlandersNewsService | The Concession district in De Haan © PHOTO HEMIS VIA AFP
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