Wenduine's reputation as the princess of the Belgian coast is thoroughly deserved. This family-friendly resort combines the charm of its small scale with an excellent range of facilities. With its traffic-free promenade and the Rotonde, its beautiful wide sandy beach, its convivial shopping centre, the dunes, the woods and the hinterland, Wenduine is the perfect destination for a carefree holiday.
The beach
Wenduine is rightly proud of its beach, one of the longest and widest on the coast.
Twelve kilometres of sand: between De Haan and Wenduine stretches a beach of no less than twelve kilometres, broken only by the short promenade.
Wide and roomy: at 55 to 80 metres across there is space in abundance even in summer, and yet every facility for a pleasant stay is close at hand.
Out of season too: this beach really comes into its own in spring and autumn. Blowing away the cobwebs on a windy day is an experience in itself here.
Swimming safely: during the bathing season lifeguards watch over the supervised zones, marked by beach flags. Outside those zones, take care: the currents along this coast can be treacherous.
The Spioenkop and the Rotonde
Two spots define Wenduine, and they sit directly above and below one another.
A view from thirty metres up: the Spioenkop stands on the second-highest dune of the Belgian coast, marked by a small white pavilion with a red roof.
Everything in one glance: from the top you take in the embanked marshes inland, the wooded surroundings and the sweeping coastline all at once. The climb is more than worth it.
The Rotonde: at the foot of the dune lies the Rotonde, the beating heart of the resort and the gathering place for sun worshippers, anglers, pétanque players and children.
Car-free enjoyment: the promenade is traffic-free, so you walk from your apartment to the sand without any fuss, with the children running free beside you.
Green Wenduine
Few resorts on this coast are as green as Wenduine, and you notice it in the air straight away.
160 hectares of dune woodland: around Wenduine lies an extensive dune forest, which makes this the coastal town with the most peaceful air. Even in the busy summer months it remains an oasis of calm.
Waymarked and ready: there are waymarked walking routes through the woods and cycle rides through the embanked marshes of the hinterland.
Protected dunes: Wenduine is one of the few Belgian coastal municipalities with a dune reserve of its own. Walking there is partly restricted to protect the dunes, but there is a route that takes you almost as far as Blankenberge.
Plenty to do: swimming, tennis, golf or crazy golf, fishing, horse riding and windsurfing: it is all here, often within a stone's throw of each other.
The village
What began in the thirteenth century as a small fishing village grew during the twentieth into a much-loved resort.
Belle époque in miniature: Wenduine still carries the enduring charm of the belle époque, surrounded by large dune areas and embanked marshes.
Silent witnesses: the Rotonde, the Spioenkop, the Prins Albertpark, the Hubertmolen windmill and Wenduine's four giants together tell that whole story.
Shopping on a human scale: the charming shopping area has convivial terraces and appealing shops, plus a small village square where it is always good to linger.
Part of De Haan: Wenduine forms one municipality together with De Haan and the polder village of Klemskerke, which means the neighbours' belle époque quarter is within cycling distance too.
Events and the giants
From the Easter holidays through to September, there is almost always something on in Wenduine.
The Giants Festival: at the annual Giants Festival in July, Wenduine invites some forty Belgian and foreign giants, who process through the streets in a colourful parade. A spectacle you will find nowhere else on this coast.
Four giants of its own: Wenduine has four giants of its own, part of the village's permanent folklore all year round.
Right through the season: Wenduine also runs a continuous programme of events and activities, from markets and concerts to beach entertainment.
Quiet out of season: once the crowds thin out, the village simply remains itself: a green resort where you unwind beautifully.
Food and drink
Small but perfectly formed applies to the table in Wenduine too.
Terraces with a sea view: along the promenade and around the Rotonde you will find convivial spots where an afternoon slips away before you know it.
Fish and seafood: fresh fish, mussels and shrimp form the backbone of the menu in the village's restaurants.
The shrimp croquette: the benchmark of every coastal brasserie, made with grey North Sea shrimp and best enjoyed in sight of the water.
Belgian classics: give in to beef stew and chips, a waffle on the promenade or a cone of chips from the frituur, with a Belgian beer alongside.
With children in Wenduine
Wenduine has an emphatically family-friendly character, and you notice it everywhere.
Safe to roam: the traffic-free promenade and the wide, gently sloping beach mean you can let the children get on with it.
The Rotonde as a meeting point: children gather here naturally, among the sun worshippers, anglers and pétanque players.
Playing outdoors: in the Prins Albertpark and elsewhere in the village there are lovely playgrounds, and the dune woodland is one big adventure ground.
Explore the surroundings
Wenduine sits in an excellent spot: the coast on one side, the finest towns in Flanders on the other.
Towns a quarter of an hour away: historic towns such as Bruges, Damme and the Dutch town of Sluis are barely fifteen minutes' drive away.
By coastal tram: the coastal tram, the longest tram line in the world, stops in Wenduine and takes you car-free from Knokke-Heist to De Panne.
Neighbours with character:De Haan is just round the corner with its belle époque villas, while on the other side lie lively Blankenberge and the port of Zeebrugge.
Further west: beyond De Haan lies Bredene, home to the only naturist beach on the Belgian coast, and beyond that the seaside city of Ostend.
Staying in Wenduine
From an apartment with a sea view to a tent by the dunes, there is an option here for every budget.
Apartments by the sea: the most popular choice on the Flemish coast. An apartment on the promenade means waking up to a view of the surf.
Holiday homes and villas: anyone coming with the family or a larger group has plenty of room in a holiday home, often with a garden and within walking distance of the woods.
Hotels and B&Bs: from a cosy bed and breakfast to a well-appointed hotel, ideal for a short weekend away with no fuss.
Camping in the green: at the campsites nearby you sleep to the sound of wind in the dune woodland. Have a look at the last minutes too for a sharp deal.
Practical information
A few things are handy to know before you set off for the coast.
Getting there: Wenduine is easily reached by car via the E40, taking the exit towards Jabbeke or Bruges. From the Netherlands you drive via Antwerp and Bruges, reaching the coast in around an hour and a half to two hours.
By public transport: get off the train at Blankenberge or Ostend and take the coastal tram, which brings you right up to the promenade.
Parking: in high season finding a space near the Rotonde takes patience, and charges often apply there too. Come early, or park a little further out and walk or cycle the last stretch.
Best time to visit: July and August are the busiest and warmest, and that is when the Giants Festival passes through. Spring and autumn offer calm, beautiful light and empty beaches.
To sum it all up briefly, these are the things you should not miss in Wenduine.
Out along the coast: visit the resorts of Ostend and Knokke-Heist, or historic Bruges with its wealth of sights.
Active into the hinterland: discover the coast along one of the many lovely cycling, walking, riding and skating routes.
Clearing your head: blowing away the cobwebs on a long beach walk is the finest way to leave the bustle behind.
Small in size, large in charm: with its dune woodlands, its giants and the view from the Spioenkop, Wenduine lives up to its nickname as the princess of the coast every single time.
