Atlanta

De Haan in wintertime-2005

by Luchonda

The beach in De Haan, reconstructed in 2005
A political decision to get the Belgian coast more attractive for foreign and local tourists.
During high season, little children with their granddads use to play with toys on the overcrowed beach. In low season those granddads use bigger machinary to rebuild the beach

Along Coast-line

by RoyJava

The beach of De Haan is a large white-golden sandy beach, 2½ km/7 miles long, good for sunbathing and with good swimming (although the North Sea in this area is chilly!). Watch the beach-signs, for the North Sea can be very dangerous. Take a beach promenade walk along De Haan's coast-line and go to the right, north-wards to the dunes. A nice area where our appartment was located. Yep, ... looks a bit cloudy ...

Some houses here do have influences of the English country style as well as of the remarkable cottage styles of Normandy, France in the Belle Epoque age. Included some Art Nouveau style.

A seaside resort with style

by hundertmorgen

De Haan-Centre is a beautiful and historic residential area with its typical Belle Epoque villas. In 1889 the Belgian Government granted a long term lease for 90 years on this 50 hectare plot of land. De Haan-Centre is really charming, not only because of its style and situation, but thanks to the absence of depressing high-rise buildings. These characteristics give a special look to this seaside resort.

Upon your arrival in De Haan you are instantly enchanted by the beautiful cottages and villas in Anglo-Norman style : façades with mock-timber work, cottages with red roofs, balconies and little turrets, …

Anyone wishing to build in De Haan still has to comply with some very stringent requirements. For example : buildings should not exceed four floors, every residence should be surrounded by its own construction-free green zone, the Anglo-Norman style must be preserved.

Every year (the first Saturday of August) De Haan goes back to this Belle Epoque period during the 'Trammelant' festivities.

The Flemish coast has 13 resorts, each with its own character. They have two things in common: the broad beach and the attractive promenade ...

De Haan has 11 kilometers of sandy beach, which covers almost 1/5 of the Belgian coast. One can take a sun-bath, go for a swim, practice sports fishing, a game of volleyball or football with friends, fly a kite, build sand-castles, make romantic walks and enjoy the sunset.
The lovely promenades of Wenduine and De Haan invite you for a drink on one of the many cosy terraces.

As family seaside resorts they maintain the "better" children's beach games: in July and August every week following beach activities are organised: treasure-hunt, sack race, paper flower shops, sand-castles.