Attractions

Oostduinkerke's chief attraction is its wide beach, the site of a special activity you find nowhere else along the coast: On days when the weather is reasonable, a group of stalwart, yellow-slickered gentlemen mount sturdy horses and wade into the surf at low tide to drag nets behind them, ensnaring large quantities of garnaalen -- tiny but tasty gray North Sea shrimps. These garnaalvissers (shrimp fishermen) follow a tradition that dates back centuries. Much of their catch goes into the kitchens or cafes owned by these same horsemen, but they leave a few pailfuls on the beach for children to gather.

Sand-yachting -- a form of overland sailing in a sailboat with wheels -- is popular at Oostduinkerke. At several places on the beach, rent the colorful vehicles and participate in the fun. Other beach activities include summer festivals (get a list from the tourist office to see what's on during your visit), sandcastle competitions, and horseback riding on the strand. Horses can be rented from Hacienda, Toekomstlaan 6 (tel. 0475/46-42-70), for 25€ ($40) for 1 1/2 hours.

Oostduinkerke's beach is backed by impressive sand dunes, one of which, De Hoge Blekker, is the highest dune in the country, at over 30m (100 ft.). Both dune hiking and climbing are popular.