Knokke

Belgian seaside resort on the Dutch border, known for galleries, dunes, and the Zwin marsh

Knokke-Heist is Belgium's most upmarket seaside resort, sitting at the northeastern end of the coast right on the Dutch border. It has long been the place where wealthy Brussels and Antwerp families keep a flat by the sea, and that money shows in the galleries, designer shops, and restaurants along the Lippenslaan — more than 85 art galleries in a town of 35,000 people is not a coincidence.

The beach is 12 kilometres long and runs from family-friendly Heist through Duinbergen, Albertstrand and the exclusive Het Zoute quarter to the Zwin Nature Park on the Dutch border — a saltwater marsh that is one of the best birdwatching spots on the North Sea coast. The Grand Casino Knokke on the seafront is worth a visit even if you never play a hand: the interior houses a large Magritte mural and works by Delvaux and Keith Haring. The town is easily reached by train from Brussels or by the Kusttram, the coastal tram that runs the full length of the Belgian shore.

Guide

Beaches

Knokke-Heist has 12 kilometres of sandy North Sea beach running from Heist in the west to Het Zoute at the Dutch border. Each stretch has its own character: Heist's beach is wide and family-oriented; Duinbergen attracts painters and is relatively quiet; Albertstrand in front of the casino has beach bars and more action in summer; and Het Zoute, the most exclusive neighbourhood, has a quieter beach that connects directly to the Zwin nature reserve.

The North Sea here is cold by most standards — water temperatures reach perhaps 18°C in August — but Belgians and Dutch are inured to it, and the beaches fill in summer with a cheerful indifference to the temperature. Out of season, the beach is magnificent in a different way: empty and windswept, with views north to the horizon and, on clear days, the faint outlines of the English coast.

Guide

Getting There

Knokke is on the Belgian coastal tram line — the Kusttram — which runs the full 67-kilometre length of the Belgian coast from De Panne near the French border to Knokke, and is one of the longest tram routes in the world. From Brussels, take the train to Bruges and change for Knokke (the journey from Brussels is around 90 minutes). There are also direct trains from Ghent.

By car, Knokke is about 120 kilometres northwest of Brussels, and the A10/E40 motorway runs most of the way. Parking in summer can be difficult and expensive; arriving by tram or train is more relaxed.

Guide

Things to Do

The Zwin nature reserve at the eastern end of town is the main reason to come to Knokke beyond the beach and the shops. The saltwater marshes and tidal flats straddling the Belgian-Dutch border are among the best birdwatching sites on the North Sea coast, with more than half of Belgium's recorded bird species having been spotted here at various times. The reserve has boardwalks, hides, and an interactive visitor centre.

The Grand Casino Knokke, one of Belgium's grandest seaside casinos, is worth a visit for the interior alone — it contains a large Magritte mural, works by Paul Delvaux and Keith Haring, and a history of commissioning major Belgian and international artists. The Lippenslaan is lined with more than 85 art galleries, and on summer evenings the beach promenade is the place to stroll and people-watch.