De Panne Things to Do

Plopsaland is a childrens theme park on the outskirts of De Panne.It is located next to the railway station and also has it's own tram stop,making it very easy to get to.There is also a water park under construction.

One of the best things about De Panne is the beautiful stretch of beach.There are plenty of stands at which to hire a deckchair,and although it can sometimes be quite windy,it is a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.If you are lucky you may catch some of the sand yachts that often travel along the beach.

Although my visit was a winter one I got the impression that De Panne puts a lot of effort into making its beaches attractive.

Wandering around with the pre-season preparations in progress I can extrapolate how it is going to look in the summer - well, the views from the beachfront bars anyway ;-HIC!

(De) The Panne has the widest beach of the Belgian coast and is appreciated for its nature, historical houses and very good restaurants. For everyone that enjoys walking and dining this city is to be recommended. It is one of the rare places where dunes are still connected with the beach. Sometimes you see sailing cars on the beach. This sport was founded in The Panne. Nice for long walks and fun on the beach.

Link:
http://filipdemuinck-kristelpardon.blogspot.com/2009/12/panne-at-belgian-coast-de-panne-aan-de.html

At the corner of the Zeelaan nr 21 and the Lindelaan you find the City Hall.

In font of the City Hall there is a big rusty anchor. This shows that fishing is one of most important business is over here in De Panne.

After you have discovered the Hoge Duinenlaan, you see the Kykhill at the end of the road.

This park is the only dune which survived the building over in the city centre.

In 1892 the French building contractor Arthur Bonzel laid out the current Zeelaan. This connection between the Veurnestraat and the beach deviated from the geometrical pattern. The street meandered between the dunes. In this way the magnificent dune area was maintained.
It was on this dune that the fisherwomen watched for the arrival of their husband and sons. That explains the name "kykhill" (kyk = look) so look-hill.

At the end of the 19th century the first cottages appeared on this dune massif. In this park several trees are provided with nameplate, like this an educational walk was created. And at the top of the hill there is a picnic place.

Between 1892 and 1913 there was a general urbanisation in De Panne by the Brussels architect Albert Dumont.

Like this the Dumont district was created.
Special for this neighbourhood are the rural cottages which were placed in the dunes, but with lots of respect for the natural dune relief.

After World War One they introduced a kind of modernistic style with flat roofs, strongly rounded angles and big windows.

Since 1995 this Dumont district is protected as city view with certain monuments and important buildings.

In the right corner of the Koning Albertplein, leaves a small road. You only can access this road by bike or on foot.

This small road has the typical name: Konijnenweg (Rabbit road). Maybe because it goes straight over and through one of the former dunes, a bit like the rabbit pipes in the dunes.

I must tell you that parts of this road are pretty steep, as I did certain parts on foot with my bike on my hand (I was with an ordinary city-bike, so not with a race bike or a mountain bike).

Along this small road you can see several beautiful old villas.

At the corner of beach road and Dr A Depagelaan stands the former Grand Hotel de L'Ocean.

During World War I, this hotel was used as a front hospital, it was opened on December 21th 1914 and run by the Belgian Red Cross.
There was room for 1800 patients. During this war more than 20.000 patients were helped here.

There is still a Remembrance plate for The Belgian Queen Elisabeth, who was a nurse here during this First World War

The dresses were beautifully decorated. Also the decoration of the face was very special.

I hardly can wait to leave for my trip to Ecuador. The moment I write this, it is still three weeks to go . . .

The music that these young musicians of Ecuador were playing was very spiritual.

They also were selling CD's with their music.
I think that this music would be excellent, to sit in a seat and relax and start meditating.

As I was walking along beach road, I suddenly heard indian music. Curious as I am, I wanted to hear and see more.

It were a group of young indians from Ecuador which were playing native music.

It was kind of coincidence that I encountered this musicians here, as in a dfew weeks I would leave for a roundtrip in Ecuador.

"Oh yes, Ecuador, here I come" was the feeling inside of me.

They look great these colourful beach cabins.

And they all have different colours.

If they all would have the same colour it would be very difficult to find the one you have rented after the swimming in the sea.

That is what these young kids are doing; they are digging the creature up.

It was kind of a funny sight.

Maybe they were just curious to know what was under the sand . . .

Or maybe they wanted to free him . . .

I don't know

By strangers, I do not mean foreigners, but the many statues placed there by the English artist Antony Gormley (born in 1950 in London).

The artist himself used his own body to start making these creatures.

Some of these statues are buried in the sand till their knees, others till the middle.

Like this when there is high tide, some of these statues disappear completely in the sea water.

Others are placed higher, and that way they manage to stay dry.