The municipality of De Panne, a seaside resort with an international character, is only a few kilometers from the French border. The beach, which becomes 250 meters wide in several places at low tide, is ideally suited for sailing yacht sports. Together with the Westhoek nature reserve and the extensive dune areas, De Panne forms the ideal backdrop for a long walk.
Location De Panne
On Esplanade Square, not far from the beach, is the monument to King Leopold I, which commemorates the fact that the first Belgian monarch set foot here in 1831.
During the First World War, De Panne played an important role for the royal family. Queen Elisabeth stayed in De Panne during this period. King Albert’s headquarters were located in Veurne, about five kilometers from De Panne.
Practical
What’s the easiest way to get there? De Panne is located in a remote corner of Belgium on the French border and is most easily accessible via the N 34.
Once you have arrived in De Panne, you can go to the town hall information point at the tourism department throughout the year for more information. In July and August you can also go to the information point on the beach.
In 2018, De Panne also offers free internet. The town hall functions as a hotspot. Anyone who has a laptop, smartphone or tablet can use this.
In the area
Westhoek
Several dune areas extend around the seaside resort of De Panne; the western part of this, the Westhoek, is a nature reserve owned by the government. With an area of 340 hectares, the dune area extends to the French border. Guided walks can be taken to discover all the secrets of this area. Those who would like to discover the area without the help of a guide can follow one of the five signposted hiking trails with a length of 1.6 to 2.6 km.
The main plant species found in the Westhoek dunes are the creeping willow, sea buckthorn and elder.
Oosthoek
East of De Panne lies the municipal nature reserve ‘Oosthoek.’ This dune and forest landscape with an area of 61 hectares is located close to ‘De Nachtegaal’ where you can get more information about the fauna and flora of the region.
Calmeynbos
The Calmeynbos is no less than 66 hectares in size and breathes sport. It is a wonderful forest for cycling, mountain biking, walking or horse riding. This forest, less than two kilometers from the Flemish coast, is home to diverse animal and plant life. The most common animals are the oriole and the green woodpecker. This is also the ideal destination for those who want to combine sea and forest on the same day.
Adinkerke
The Plopsaland amusement park is located in Adinkerke. Belgium’s most famous amusement park, which focuses on well-known TV characters such as Samson and Gert and the gnome Plop and his friends, is located three km from the center of De Panne. A trip that the little ones will not soon forget. In 2018, Plopsaland will open its doors from April to October.
Restaurants
De Panne also has many places to eat. The offer varies from renowned restaurants to contemporary eateries with a classic culinary register. Also on the sea wall are some modern taverns directly opposite the King Leopold I monument. Some addresses are: Hostellerie Le Fox, Le Flore, Imperial, …
Hotels
Most hotels are within walking distance of the sea wall. The range of hotels varies between modern and sober furnishings. Some addresses are: Hotel Donny, Royal, …
Campsites
All campsites in De Panne open their doors (in 2018) from March/April to September. The campsites always offer a mix of pitches for tents and caravans. Some addresses are: Kindervreugde, Week-end, …
For more information, please visit www.depanne.be