The best running trails around Zuydcoote

"Westerpunt" is a six-meter-high architectural gem on the promenade leading to France. Studio MOTO designed it as a symbolic connection between the sea, dunes, and humanity. From the top, you can enjoy a magnificent 360° view of the surroundings. At high tide, part of the structure is submerged, making it seem as if you are literally suspended "above" the sea.

The Dune du Perroquet is a nature reserve in the town of Bray-Dunes, part of the Nord department of France. The 179-hectare area consists of dunes that are directly connected to the North Sea coast, making it the northernmost point of France. It has been a protected nature reserve since 1985 and is the easternmost of a series of dune areas along the French North Sea coast. The dunes are home to more than 350 plant species, 70 breeding bird species, and various amphibians. Typical dune plants include sea rocket, common evening primrose, sticky stork's bill, blue sea holly, Parnassia, and bird's-foot trefoil. Many bunkers can be found in the area. Some are remnants of the Atlantic Wall from World War II, but there are also a number of bunkers built by the French during the interwar period as part of the Maginot Line. Although this line was particularly strong along the French-German border, it was also constructed in a weakened form along the Belgian-French border to prevent a potential breakthrough by German troops through Belgian territory. Source: Wikipedia

A well-maintained bike path that can get busy at times. Courtesy is key. Enjoy together, each at their own pace.

Endless beach with promenade and bike path.

Unfortunately, the bike path here is no longer paved. Still, the scenery is beautiful.

These striking statues can be placed alongside monuments like the Statue of Liberty (New York) or Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro) thanks to their heroic-realistic character. Originally, such statues served as guides, but now they've become true must-sees. The three heads are also true wiseguys: each stubbornly looks in a different direction: towards France, England, or the Belgian countryside.

With only a pedestal for a body and their identical faces, the Three Wise Men of De Panne brave the elements. Their monolithic stature towers over the coastline. They fit into a tradition of realistic, public sculptures with a heroic function, such as the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, the Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro, or, in the distant past, the Colossus of Rhodes. They stand as guardians or guardian angels for those sailing the sea, and as symbolic protectors of a port or coastal city. Originally serving as a welcoming beacon or guidepost, these statues have become a tourist attraction over time, from a point of reference to the destination itself. Originally, "wisdom" was a colloquial term for a scholar or wise person; now, it's used to describe a know-it-all who confuses wisdom with arrogance. With "The Three Wise Men of De Panne," Jos de Gruyter and Harald Thys have combined the original meaning with an extremely literal interpretation: the "pointing" of the nose. Nothing is as effectively guiding as a human nose; as laughable and banal as it is insurmountable and fundamental. Over each other's heads, the wise men look towards England, France, and the interior respectively, their gaze fixed on infinity. The thoughts, observations, and enigmatic knowledge of their gigantic minds likely extend from these three areas and reach much further. Source: https://www.dekust.be/beaufort-de-drie-wijsneuzen-van-de-panne

A magnificent viewpoint overlooking the southwesternmost point of Belgium. Westerpunt is a geometric, gentle staircase that takes you up from the promenade, towering over the beach, before descending further to the beach or the promenade below. It symbolically connects the sea with the dunes, nature with the coast, and the residents with each other. Its unique location next to the dunes and the Westhoek Nature Reserve makes it a real attraction. Experience breathtaking 360-degree views and discover the beautiful landscape.