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Belgium,
The Coast and West Flanders
The Coast and West Flanders: -
The north coast of Belgium stretches for 69km (43 miles) from Knokke near the Dutch border to De Panne on the French border with an unbroken chain of resorts and sandy beaches. Beach cabins and windbreaks have been installed by hotels, agencies and private owners and in some resorts the beach huts are open to the public. Bathing in the sea is free on all beaches and there are facilities for sailing, sand yachting, riding, fishing, rowing, golf and tennis. The promenade is closed to all traffic and the beaches shelve gently and are safe for children.
Resorts: De Panne, Koksijde and Sint Idesbald, Oostduinkerke, Nieuwpoort, Westende and Lombardsijde, Middelkerke, Ostend, Bredene, De Haan, Wenduine, Blankenberge, Zeebrugge and Knokke-Heist.
For nightlife: Ostend, Knokke, Blankenberge and Middelkerke.
For quieter beaches: Zeebrugge, Nieuwpoort, Oostduinkerke, Westende and Lombardsijde and Wenduine.
Places of historical interest: These include Damme and Veurne. The World War I battlefield and cemeteries of Ypres can also be visited.
The Ardennes: This area is famous for its cuisine, forests, lakes, streams and grottoes. The River Meuse makes its way through many important tourist centres. The town of Dinant, in the Meuse valley, boasts a medieval castle, while its most famous landmark is the Gothic church of Notre-Dame. Annevoie has a castle and some beautiful water gardens, while Yvoir Godinne and Profondeville are well known for watersports. The old university town of Namur, with cobbled streets in its centre, has a cathedral, castle and many museums. Houyet offering kayaking and other assorted outdoor activities. The River Semois passes through Arlon and Florenville; nearby are the ruins of Orval Abbey, Bouillon and its castle, Botassart,
Rochehaut and Bohan. The Amblève Valley is one of the wildest in the Ardennes and the grottoes in the Fond de Quarreux are one of the great attractions of the region. Among these is the Merveilleuse grotto at Dinant and the cavern at Remouchamps. There are prehistoric caverns at Spy,
Rochefort,
Hotton and Han-sur-Lesse (with an underground lake).
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