De Panne is the westernmost resort in Belgium, with the De Westhoek nature reserve right behind the beach and the French border within walking distance.
Wild dunes on the border: at 345 hectares, De Westhoek is the best known of the nature reserves around De Panne.
A panorama in the heart of the reserve: the Westhoek viewpoint and the other viewpoints offer peace and wide views.
Village and dunes: besides the walking routes through the dunes, you can also explore the historic village on foot.
To France: along the wide beach you can walk west past the border at Bray-Dunes.
Prefer to cycle? Then take a look at our cycle routes around De Panne.
Walks through the village
Besides the dunes and the beach, De Panne has a village centre full of history that is best explored on foot.
Dumontwijk: the walking route through the Dumontwijk takes you past twelve villas and buildings in cottage style, art nouveau and art deco, from the Zeelaan to the Zeedijk.
The walking routes around De Panne lead through De Westhoek and the Calmeynbos, past the old inland dunes of the Cabourduinen near Adinkerke and along the beach.
Westhoek wandelroute: 10.4 km, almost entirely on natural and unpaved paths through the reserve.
Wandelen in De Panne: 12.5 km, more than half of it on natural paths.
Wandelen in de duinen: 15.8 km through the dunes of De Panne and Adinkerke.
Erfgoedwandelroute De Panne: a short 4.2 km route on paved roads past the heritage of the resort.
Sportief wandelen in De Panne en Koksijde: 18.4 km for brisk walkers, all the way to Koksijde.
29 Nature reserves
Around De Panne you will find 29 nature reserves, on both sides of the French border.
De Westhoek: 345 hectares of dunes, beach, woods, meadows and marshes, home to more than 200 bird species.
The Calmeynbos in De Panne is a lovely dune woodland of around 66 hectares, close to the Flemish coast. What can you expect at the Calmeynbos? It is an ideal place for anyone who wants to combine sea, woodland and nature during a walk, bike ride, mountain bike trip or horse ride. - Shady nature: On warm summer days, the ...
The nature reserve Dune Dewulf is located in northern France, close to the Belgian seaside resort of De Panne and a short distance from Dunkirk. What can you expect at Dune Dewulf? - Extensive dune area: Dune Dewulf covers almost 300 hectares and is spread across the French municipalities of Leffrinckoucke, Zuydcoote and ...
The nature reserve Dune du Perroquet is located near Bray-Dunes, just across the French border from the Belgian seaside resort of De Panne. What can you expect at Dune du Perroquet? This extensive dune area forms the northernmost part of France and connects with the Belgian nature reserve De Westhoek. - Beautiful ...
The Krakeelduinen lie south of De Panne, close to the French border. This peaceful and lesser-known nature area is part of the extensive dune landscape of the Westhoek and is ideal for anyone who wants to escape the bustle of the beach and promenade for a while. What can you expect in the Krakeelduinen? - Unspoilt dune n ...
De Westhoek in De Panne is a Flemish nature reserve of almost 350 hectares. Together with the neighbouring areas it forms the largest dune massif on the Flemish coast, right up to the French border. What can you expect at De Westhoek? - History: The landscape was protected in 1935, and in 1957 De Westhoek became Flanders' ...
The nature reserve Dune Marchand is located in northern France, between Bray-Dunes and Zuydcoote, close to the Belgian seaside resort of De Panne. What can you expect at Dune Marchand? - National nature reserve: Dune Marchand is a protected nature area and forms a valuable part of the dune landscape along the French North ...
The Duinpanne visitor centre is located in the heart of the green Calmeynbos in De Panne. It is a pleasant stop for anyone who wants to head into nature, discover more about the coast and dunes, or simply look around at a relaxed pace with children. What can you expect at the Duinpanne visitor centre? - Centrally located ...
The Houtsaegerduinen nature area is a quiet and surprisingly varied dune landscape, enclosed between De Panne and Sint-Idesbald. The area consists of small drifting dunes, moss dunes, dune grasslands, shrubs and young woodland. What can you expect in the Houtsaegerduinen? - Varied dune landscape: During a walk, you will ...
De Panne has 6 viewpoints over the North Sea, the dunes and the border area with France.
Groene Biezen: the panorama platform on the Oostergrenspad, on the eastern edge of De Westhoek.
Perroquet: a quiet lookout on the Helmpad in the western part of the reserve, close to France.
Westerpunt: the viewpoint at the end of the concrete promenade towards France.
Westhoek
The viewpoint Westhoek in De Panne is a peaceful and beautiful spot in the middle of the nature reserve De Westhoek. What can you expect at viewpoint Westhoek? From this high dune along the Ligusterpad, you look out over an open dune landscape with marram grass, low vegetation, shrubs, sandy paths and rolling dunes. - ...
The panoramic platform Perroquet is located in the western part of the nature reserve De Westhoek in De Panne. This peaceful viewpoint can be found along the Helmpad, close to the French border. What can you expect at panoramic platform Perroquet? - Views over a cross-border dune landscape: From the platform, you look out ...
The panoramic platform Groene Biezen, also known as panoramic platform East, is a lovely viewpoint in nature reserve De Westhoek in De Panne. You will find it along the Oostergrenspad, near the Groene-Biezenlaan, on the eastern edge of the reserve. What can you expect at panoramic platform Groene Biezen? - Beautiful views ...
The Westerpunt in De Panne is a striking viewpoint at the end of the concrete promenade towards France. What can you expect at the Westerpunt in De Panne? This remarkable stair structure takes you up above the beach, sea and dunes, offering beautiful views across one of the westernmost spots on the Belgian coast. - ...
The Hoge Blekker, standing at an impressive 33 metres, is not only the highest dune on the Belgian coast but also an iconic landmark you must not miss. What to expect at the Hoge Blekker in Koksijde? This unique natural area combines rich history with breathtaking landscapes and is a must-see in Koksijde. - Breathtaking ...
The Watertoren Groenendijk, located on Nieuwpoortsteenweg in Oostduinkerke, is a unique publicly accessible observation tower. It is a special project that brings together nature, heritage and experience. What can you expect at the Watertoren Groenendijk? - Breathtaking views: Thanks to a new external staircase and a ...
