The best MTB trails around Zuienkerke

On the Zeedijk of Blankenberge stands this impressive, seven-meter-high bronze monument to Lieutenant Joseph Lippens and Sergeant Henri De Bruyne, two Belgian soldiers who died in the Congo in 1892. The monument was unveiled in 1900 and designed by sculptor Guillaume Charlier. The depiction shows De Bruyne supporting his sick superior Lippens while simultaneously pointing resolutely towards the horizon. The statue thus tells the story of their captivity and their refusal to abandon each other. Over the years, the monument has had a turbulent history. The bronze statues were removed by the German occupiers during the First World War and later recast. Since 1980, the monument has been protected heritage. Today, it is not only a striking landmark on the sea dike, but also a place that invites reflection on Belgium's colonial past and how we view it today. An impressive monument with a story that reaches far beyond its bronze figures.

A great historical fact for the Zeedijk of Blankenberge is that the very first electric tram line in Belgium ran here! The birth of the Kusttram! Today, the Kusttram is an icon that connects the entire Belgian coast, but it all started on the Zeedijk of Blankenberge. In 1890, a test line was built between the station and the dike, specifically for the wealthy Belle Époque tourists. This was an absolute world attraction: at that time, steam trams or horse-drawn carriages still ran everywhere, but in Blankenberge, people glided silently and hyper-modernly past brand-new hotels and casinos. The trial was so successful that it laid the foundation for today's, the world's longest tram line. Tip for your route: if you walk or cycle along the wide dike today, you are literally treading in the footsteps of the very first tram passengers who stood here more than 130 years ago, gazing at the sea with their mouths agape!

The Lonely Jester of the Marina. As you pass the Paravang, you suddenly encounter this mysterious, somewhat sad figure with his checkered suit and jester's cap. This bronze artwork is the "Monument for a Saltimbanque" (a French term for a travelling acrobat or street artist), created by local artist Yves Rhayé. The statue forms a beautiful, contrasting interplay with the location. Where the Paravang was the place for the rich aristocracy to stroll and gossip elegantly in the early 20th century, here now stands a symbol of the poor, travelling folk artist who had to entertain the rich back then. The posture: the saltimbanque stands bent over, as if tired from performing or lost in deep thought, listening to the lapping water of the marina behind the glass wall. Nice detail: the Paravang itself (a corruption of the French pare-vent) was specially built at the time to protect the chic bathers from the strong, cold sea wind, so that their fashionable hats would not blow away!

The watchtower in Vosseslag is part of the “Horizont 2025” project: Thanks to this community project between the province of West Flanders and Westtoer, many viewpoints will be realized throughout the province. In addition to the construction of new watchtowers, existing buildings with unique views will also be made accessible to the general public.

Panoramic viewpoint. The dune pavilion or 'spioenkop' in the dunes at the height of beach post 4 is a defining element in the Bredene dune strip. The dune pavilion in Bredene is an exponent of beach culture and can also be found in other coastal municipalities. Source: https://www.dekust.be/spioenkop-bredene

The little house in the dunes...

The Zandpanne Nature Reserve is a valuable dune area between Wenduine and De Haan, known for its variety of dune forests, open dunes and moist dune valleys.

On the coast's second-highest dune (31 m) stands a small white pavilion with a red roof: the Spioenkop. It offers a magnificent panorama of the polder landscape beyond, the wooded surroundings, and the coastal plain. At the foot of the dune lies the Rotonde, the place to be for sunbathers, anglers, pétanque players, and children.