Vast, pristine landscapes and amazing panoramic views: the polders are the perfect place to relax and unwind. Whether you like to walk, birdwatch in the Zwin, or explore the region on horseback or on your bike: the green belt around Knokke-Heist is very much heaven on earth. Here you can still live life to the rhythm of nature. After your walk, stop in one of two picturesque hamlets – Westkapelle or Ramskappelle – where the cobbled streets lead you to some of the loveliest spots and the tastiest regional products.
ITINERARY
See the numbers on the map, at the bottom of this page
Ramskapelle is the tastiest polder village. Cuisine is a way of life here: the tiny village is home to a cornucopia of superb restaurants. Perfectly cooked meat, classic dishes made with regional products, or the freshest fish straight from the sea – all of this is on the menu! The restaurants are in the shadow of the Callant Mill (1) (1897) or are overlooking the pretty, historic St. Vincent’s (11), a church surrounded by a copse. This is the only church in Belgium to still have a ‘schettekot’. On Sundays, after mass, the rabbits and chickens in these small cages were sold for charity, to benefit the poor. Don’t forget to stop at the For Freedom Museum (18) to find out more about the liberation of West Flanders and the Battle of the Scheldt. The Jones brothers will regale you with stories about their father, Dennis Jones, whose wartime adventures and tribulations inspired them to open the museum. The backdrops and technology will take you on a journey back in time. You are just a stone’s throw from the Leopoldkanaal, with its picturesque towpath that takes you to Damme.
In Dorpsstraat (19), in Westkapelle you'll find lots of local shops and the magnificent St. Nicholas’ Church (2), which rose from its ashes after being destroyed by fire in 2013. The architects renovated this centuries-old church with respect, giving it a new purpose for the 21st century. A tourist visit to a hospital? Rather unusual, you may think, but in Knokke-Heist, looking at the award-winning, spectacular interior of AZ Zeno Hospital (8) is definitely worthwhile. All the food is sourced from the bistro’s own food forest. It’s easy to see how it became the first-ever hospital restaurant to be included in the Gault&Millau restaurant guide. At ’t Walletje, you can see all the work that goes into providing for your leisure and entertainment: Club Brugge train at its Basecamp and the 'billenkarren' go-carts and the XL-city mobiles are built here. Artificial surf was also devised here: the AllWaves pilot project is an excellent example of state-ofthe-art technology.
Equestrian sport has a very prominent presence here too. Knokke Hippique is the absolute highlight of the annual events calendar. It is one of the only events to organise a CSI 5* Rolex Grand Prix and a Nations Cup. This is almost unique across the world. Did you know that Knokke-Heist has separate bridle paths for equestrian fans? You and your horse can leave from manège Ponderosa (23) or Lanckriet Stables (24). One of the most beautiful bridle paths, or ‘pèerdewegels’ as the locals call them, is located along Isabellavaart, a historic canal.
Walk down the long promenade and you will be treated to breathtaking views of the Zwin Nature Park (7), a pristine, 333-hectare landscape of salt marshes and mudflats, which is flooded twice a day by the North Sea. In the Middle Ages, you could sail all the way to Bruges through the Zwin estuary. The region thus became the hub of all West-European trade, bringing immense wealth. Whatever the weather, the Zwin Nature Park, which comprises a Visitor Centre, the landscape park and the Zwin plain, is always worth a visit. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars! Storks have built their nests high above the walking trails, while migratory birds squawk loudly overhead. Children discover the beauty of nature as they play in the park. But there’s more to see at this international airport for birds than our feathered friends. In summer, when the sea lavender flowers, a purple paradise emerges. So, all in all, it’s a must-visit, because this nature reserve speaks to the collective imagination!
The large nature reserve is encircled by protected dune, dune woodland and polder areas, which you can easily navigate by following the hiking trail network. It is also home to several artworks, including the most famous of them all: ‘Hospitality’ by Barry Flanagan, also known as 'The hare'. But Rückriem’s ‘4 Monoliths’ also encourages you to seek out contemplation in this lush green setting. Running into one of the herds of impressive Scottish Highland cows is always a special experience. The Internationale Zwindijk (4) is Belgium’s most beautiful cycling highway, linking Knokke-Heist with Cadzand, in the unique hinterland. The Zwin polders (5) are a great place for a cycling trip, with a dense network of routes for cyclists. Wind your way past woods and dunes, polders and their vast meadows and fields, Spanish forts, and picturesque tree-lined canals with old farms to the medieval harbour towns of Damme and Sluis (10 km). Legs and stamina permitting, you can even cycle to Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage City and the Venice of the North, which is just 20 km from Knokke-Heist.
Flandriens, prick up your ears! Barrel your way across the cobbled 15th-century Graaf Jansdijk (6) towards Calf Mill (25) (from 1681!). Every September, the windmill is open to the public for Open Monuments Day. You also pass ‘Les Cinq Anneaux’ (9), a magnificent villa and the tiny Chapel of Our Lady (10). Or perhaps you prefer the cobbles in Hazegrasstraat? Catch your breath while enjoying one of the delicious farm ice creams at Hoeve Hazegras.
Next door, at Zoete Polder, you can pick up some of the tastiest cherries, (mirabelle) plums and apples you’ve ever tasted. Is the fruit season over? Don’t worry, they sell their exquisite artisanal jams yearround. It’s worth remembering that you can shop for regional products at farms throughout the polders. This is known as the short chain: from farm to plate, establishing a direct link between products and consumers, with farmers producing and selling fresh, quality products. Good for both the environment and your bank balance! Examples include fresh meat from Burggraeve or Rabaut in Ramskapelle, pick-yourown flowers at Het Polderveld in Westkapelle, and tasty treats from the land at De Tramroute or Hof ter Kalvekete in the Zwin polders. Enquire about ‘Cycling through the Polders’ (‘Fietsen door de Polders’), our short-chain themed cycling trail, if you want to find out more. Bon appétit!
Highlights
Zwin Nature Park
At high tide, the sea floods the Zwin plain (5), which is situated behind the dunes and the beach, on the Dutch-Belgian border. If you plan to visit this nature park, wellies and water- and windproof clothing are highly recommended. Bring your binoculars so you can observe the waders as they land. The interaction between the tides has created a habitat unlike any other biotope in Europe: an intertidal area, comprised of salt marshes and mudflats. Only the hardiest of plants, such as marsh samphire and sea lavender – also known as zwinneblomme – can survive in this unique saltwater habitat. The marshy soil provides a rich, varied diet for thousands of birds. It’s easy to see why this plain has been nicknamed the international airport for migratory birds! They arrive here by the thousands, year-round, to spend the winter or to forage for food. Obviously, you can also explore the Zwin Nature Park without getting your feet wet: the visitor centre hosts all kinds of exhibitions and experiences, there are various walking trails, ponds, observation huts and towers and even an observation post. Want to know why the Zwin Nature Park is Belgium’s best-known nature park? There’s only one way: by visiting of course! It’s one of the must-dos in Knokke-Heist and the Zwin region, whatever the weather.
For Freedom Museum
None of the inhabitants of the Zwin region and West Zeeland-Flanders were spared repression and deprivation between 1940 and 1944. We want to share this dark chapter in our history with our children and grandchildren hoping that their generations will not engage in such violent warfare. Young people need to know that freedom comes at a price – a price that our ancestors paid with their lives. We must cherish freedom. Every day, the team at the For Freedom Museum (18) strives to convey this important message of peace and tolerance to its visitors. In 1947, Dennis Jones, a Normandy veteran born in Crewe in Cheshire (UK), married Georgette, a local girl. The military uniform that he wore at his wedding was also the first uniform in the collection. During the last thirty years, curator Fred Jones guided Canadian veterans through their former battlegrounds.Whenever a veteran passed away in Canada, the obvious question was "What are we going to do with dad’s uniform?" The most probable answer was "Send it to Fred Jones in Belgium, one day he’s going to start a museum, to tell our story. Why we came, why we bled and sacrificed our young lives!”.
They helped expand the collection. The old village school of Ramskapelle, which dates from 1876, was restored and turned into a unique museum. In April 2009, the first wing of the museum opened, with 100 uniforms on life-size mannequins and immerse scenes where you can experience what a night-time bomb raid felt like or see authentic reconstructions of some of the most important places in Knokke-Heist during WW II. Did you know that each November, people follow in the wake of the Canadian soldiers who liberated Knokke-Heist? During the Canadian Liberation March, many hundreds of locals and Canadian walk the 33-km long march from Hoofdplaat to Knokke-Heist, that made history.
Shopping
Shopping streets
Dorpsstraat Westkapelle (19)
Farm shops
Zoete Polder: Apple and cherry orchards
Hoeve Hazegras IJshuisje: Artisanal sorbet and ice cream, made from fresh farm milk
De Tramroute: Fresh meat and potatoes, straight from the farm
Hoeveslagerij Burggraeve: Farm meat, cheese, canned vegetables, wine, potatoes, onions and eggs
't Hof ter Kalvekete: Milk, butter, yoghurt, cheese, ice cream, other desserts, potatoes, eggs, honey, fruit juices
Het Polderveld: Pick-your-own vegetables, cut flowers, meat, potatoes
Discover all shops.
Food, drinks & ACCOMMODATION
Discover top restaurants, all food addresses and bars in The Polders.
Discover all accommodation options in The Polders.
Art & culture
Ontdek de verschillende kunstbeelden & kunstgaleries in de Polders.
Discover all art sculptures & art galleries in The Polders.
Nature
Parks & domains
The Zwin (7)
Zwin dunes (5)
Internationale Zwindijk (4)
De vaart (20)
Sports centres
Molenhoek Sports Centre (21): Sports hall, football pitches, skate park
NRG Fitness (22)
Petanque court Church of Westkapelle (2)
Public playgrounds
Playground and park of Ramskapelle (11)
Molenhoek Skate Park (21)
Playground near the Church of Westkapelle (2)
Beeodiversity
Zoete Polder
Zeven Kote
