Beach holidays in Belgium are not as popular as on the French Cote d’Azur or in exotic countries. The country is washed by the only sea – the North Sea. Despite its name, in summer you can swim here in warm water, relax on the beach, and local resort towns offer tourists active entertainment or a relaxing holiday.
The coastline is only 66 km. This square contains several popular places for summer sea holidays in Belgium. The sea has time to warm up to a comfortable temperature, and the beaches consist of fine-grained sand with small fractions of pebbles. Are you wondering if sea holidays in this country can really compete with popular tourist destinations? We’ll help you find out.
City of Ostend, popular resort
This is a famous resort in Belgium not only in the country, but also in the world. It is located in West Flanders. And although its population is 70 thousand people, tourism and entertainment infrastructure is developed here. You can get to the city by train; the railway runs along the entire coast. There is also a coastal tram service, allowing you to quickly travel to local attractions or the beaches of Belgium.
What tourists and independent travelers need to know about this Belgian resort:
- The residence of the royal family is located here. But royalty visits her only during official visits.
- Many tourists from England. The reason is the relatively low cost of accommodation and food, and the proximity of the resort to the British island.
- The beaches are sandy and there are places for secluded relaxation. For comfort, you can rent an umbrella and a sun lounger.
- In Leopold Park you can take a break from the sea and the bustle of the beach.
Another advantage of this city on the sea coast in Belgium is its local historical and natural attractions. We recommend that you visit museums – local history, fine arts, Sint Peterson, James Ensor house museum. In the local harbor you can see a training sailboat moored to the pier.
Important: in summer this Belgian seaside resort is full of tourists from Europe. We recommend coming here at the beginning or end of the beach season.
De Panne – a place for a beach holiday
The picturesque resort town is located in West Flanders. A special feature of De Panne is its wide beaches, which are noticeable at low tide. The surface is sandy; tourists and independent travelers like to take photos and selfies against the backdrop of the setting sun in the Belgian sea. You can get to the city by bus or train. The coastal tram runs every day. You can take a bus to Dunkirk, France.
Interesting facts about the resort:
- Nature reserves. We recommend you visit De Westhoek, Oosthoek and Kalmainbos Forest. There are convenient places for family recreation.
- This is a children’s amusement park located next to the tram stop.
- Historical sights. For a break from the sea, you can visit the Church of St. Peter, in which the hall temple is made in the neo-Gothic style. Nearby are the Royal Chapel and the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk church.
- Sailing competitions. They are held annually in the Sea of Belgium. But at this time the city has the most tourists.
In addition to the traditional beach holiday in De Panna, you can rent a yacht or catamaran. Vessels are available with or without crew. This place is popular among lovers of traditional and underwater fishing. For accommodation, we recommend booking hotel rooms in advance. It is important to correctly calculate the distance to the nearest beach, which should be convenient for a family vacation.
Tip: when organizing meals, we recommend that you choose restaurants or cafes away from the city center. There are fewer visitors even during peak season, and the cost of traditional Belgian dishes is lower.
Holidays in Knokke-Heist
This is the most expensive resort on the sea coast in Belgium. The city is also located in West Flanders and has convenient transport links. You can see beautiful sand dunes, nature reserves. Knokke-Heist is a convenient place for a family holiday. Amusement parks have been built for children, nightclubs are open for adults, and water sports are available. Residents of Belgium and western Germany prefer to relax at this resort.
Local attractions or how to spend time in Knokke-Heist:
- The beach is sandy. Its length is 12 km, making it the largest on the Belgian sea coast. Tourists can rent umbrellas and sun loungers, and there are places for secluded relaxation.
- This city has the most expensive hotels on the Belgian seacoast. The average cost of a double room in the summer season is 120 Euros per 1 day.
- The resort has 250 restaurants, cafes and bars. You can try national Belgian cuisine and order a seafood menu.
- Zvin Butterfly Garden and Bird Sanctuary. Contains more than 400 species of butterflies and birds. Group and individual excursions are organized for tourists.
The resort has 5 large swimming pools and a water park. For lovers of active recreation, you can rent equipment for windsurfing and diving. The local city park has comfortable benches and gazebos and a lot of green space. Additionally there are 5 casinos. The city’s infrastructure is friendly to tourists and independent travelers.
Interesting: Knokke-Heist resort consists of six districts, on the territory of which 30 thousand people live.
Nieupoort Resort
Became famous due to the fact that in its place there was a sea. In Belgium, the first mention of Nieupoort dates back to the 12th century AD. It is a popular destination among yachtsmen and water sports enthusiasts. It is not suitable for a family holiday, since there is no entertainment for adults and young tourists. However, it is considered for a secluded holiday. The reason is the relatively small number of vacationers even during the peak season.
There are several hotels, restaurants and bars on the territory of the settlement. The beach has a traditional sandy surface for this region of Belgium. Although its length is small, about 3 km. A special feature of Niuport is the pier where celebrity yachts are often moored.
Interesting: while on vacation in Nieuport, we recommend visiting a local historical landmark – the Notre Dame Church.
De Han for family holidays
De Haan resort is a combination of traditional sea dunes with green spaces. This city is the only one on the Belgian sea coast that is literally surrounded by greenery. Therefore, wealthy Belgians and foreigners prefer to buy villas here. A special feature are the two nature reserves – Sandpanne and Kiikuit. Part of their territory is located within the city limits; there are convenient routes for active recreation. This is preferred by married couples with children.
The beaches in De Han are sandy and suitable for families. You can sunbathe on them, swim in the sea, and go fishing. For the convenience of tourists, sun loungers and umbrellas are installed, and there are coastal cafes. Night entertainment – discos, clubs. But there are few of them, they do not interfere with traditional family vacations.
