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Dune Reserve De Westhoek

  • Author: Roger

Dune reserve De Westhoek

The seaside town of De Panne is rightly proud of its dune heritage and has developed numerous hiking trails. This walk gives you a view of the surprisingly beautiful nature on the West Coast. The dune reserve De Westhoek, together with the Calmeyn forest, the Krakeel- and the Oosterhoek dunes, forms the largest dune massif on the Belgian coast.

Distance: 14.5 km.

Time: 4h00.

Grade: Moderate.

Type: Circular.

Gps Track: Yes.

Route description: Yes.

Wheelchair: Not suitable.

Dog: Allowed.

Height gain: No information.

Trail: 83% unpaved.

Marking: Walking nodes.

Hiking shoes recommended.

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Through the Sahara in De Panne.

The walk goes through woods, dunes and along the beach. This is also the reason why this hike received an average difficulty level. Not only the dunes, but also the loose sand ensure that this walk should not be underestimated. Via the Oosterhoekduinen, an 80-hectare dune and forest area where dry moss dunes and dune grasslands set the tone, we walk in the direction of the Calmeynbos. The Calmeynbos is a beautiful varied dune forest of 66 hectares. Then the Krakeelduinen are visited, this is a 20-hectare grazing area on which Swifters sheep graze. We walk on and arrive in the dune reserve De Westhoek, also called the Sahara. This nature reserve is the oldest nature reserve on our Belgian coast, and is wedged between De Panne and the French border. There is a beautifully landscaped dune path with 3 viewing platforms. Konik horses graze there. Fact: Kon is Polish for horse, Konik for horse ...... Via the border path, literally the border between France and Belgium, we arrive at the beach. Here we walk to the right until junction 2 and via the Schuilhavenlaan we return to the nature reserve.

Dune reserve De Westhoek

Download PDf for nodes to follow.

Map & Poi's.

POI 1 - Belgian Military Cemetery.

At the Belgian military cemetery De Panne, 3,152 Belgian dead are buried. This cemetery is therefore the largest Belgian military cemetery. The construction of this cemetery started during the war. After the war there were still many burials due to the eviction of smaller cemeteries in the Westhoek.

Municipal cemetery.
www.depanne.be.

POI 2 - De Duinpanne.

Visitor center De Duinpanne is centrally located in the Calmeyn forest. In the visitor center you can get a lot of free brochures about the region or get started with our interactive map. An eye-catcher in the center is the North Sea aquarium.

Visitor Center De Duinpanne.
www.west-vlaanderen.be