Halfway along the Belgian coast lies Middelkerke, a resort with a promenade full of shops and terraces. It is an excellent destination for a beach holiday with children, and the surrounding area offers lovely walks and cycle rides. It is precisely that variety that makes Middelkerke so popular, for a short weekend just as much as for a long stay.
The beach
Middelkerke has a beach with two records to its name, and you notice them the moment you step onto the promenade.
The longest in Belgium: the beach at Middelkerke is the longest in the country, with around nine kilometres of sand all linked by a long promenade.
The most hours of sunshine: did you know Middelkerke enjoys the most sunshine hours on the entire Belgian coast? Anyone considering a beach holiday in Belgium has come to the right place.
Swimming safely: in July and August you can swim in the guarded zones under the watch of lifeguards and first-aid professionals, and there are showers to rinse off the sand and salt.
Room for everyone: thanks to that length you will always find a quiet spot, whether you want to be close to the activities or simply alone with the surf.
The resort
Middelkerke is a seaside resort without any needless frills, exactly as many families like it.
Convivial and family-friendly: no expensive airs here, just an easy-going atmosphere in which everyone feels at home straight away. Flemish culture does the rest.
Shopping on the promenade: the broad, long seafront is lined with shops and terraces, ideal for a stroll after the beach or an ice cream at sunset.
Part of a larger municipality: together with Westende, Lombardsijde and a string of polder villages such as Leffinge and Slijpe, Middelkerke forms one municipality, with a surprising amount of variety in a small area.
Dune and polder: Middelkerke lies partly in the dunes and partly in the polder, which means that within minutes of leaving the surf you are standing in a green landscape.
Culture and sights
There is no shortage of culture in Middelkerke, and the best of it often lies in the small details.
Casino SILT Middelkerke
Silt is undoubtedly the most iconic building in Middelkerke. This iconic structure literally forms the centerpiece of the Middelkerke boulevard and offers visitors an unforgettable experience full of excitement, luxury, and relaxation. What can you expect at SILT in Middelkerke? - Luxurious Stay: At the top of the building, there is a four-star hotel with 70 ...
The elegant atmosphere of the early 20th century awaits you at Villa Les Zéphyrs in Westende, a beautifully preserved example of the rich coastal life of yesteryears. What to expect at Villa Les Zéphyrs? - Historical Architecture:Villa Les Zéphyrs, built in the 1920s, is a perfectly preserved example of typical coastal architecture from that period. - ...
Art in public spaces: the municipality owns a striking collection of visual art, spread along the promenade and the public domain. A walk by the sea thus becomes a small open-air museum all by itself.
Churches and monuments: the Sint-Willibrorduskerk marks the old heart of the village, and in the polder hamlets you will come across further churches and monuments almost by chance.
More to discover: in and around the municipality there are also various museums and viewpoints, ideal for a day when the weather is less kind.
The polder and the hinterland
Leave the promenade behind and you discover a landscape that feels nothing like the resort.
Cycling without hills: the polders are ideal for walks and bike rides through a sweeping landscape of ditches, pollarded willows and endless skies.
Farms with a story: among the meadows stand characterful farmsteads such as 't Fleriskot, about which, so the tales go, more than a few magical stories circulate.
The Spermaliehof: this farm dates back to the thirteenth century and makes a fine base for a proper farm holiday, far from the bustle of the seafront.
Dune and polder in one ride: enthusiasts can enjoy the distinctive flora and fauna of the dune landscape, which flows seamlessly into the green of the hinterland.
Food and drink
Flemish dining culture lives up to expectations here as well.
Fish and seafood: fresh fish, mussels and shrimp form the backbone of the menu in the restaurants along the promenade and in the centre.
The shrimp croquette: the benchmark of every coastal brasserie, made with grey North Sea shrimp and best enjoyed on a terrace with a sea view.
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.
Regional produce from the polder: inland too you will find good addresses where farm produce and seasonal cooking take the lead.
With children in Middelkerke
Middelkerke is very much a family resort, where children are kept busy from morning till night.
Holiday entertainment: during the school holidays an extensive activity programme runs for younger children and teenagers alike, with supervision and games on the beach.
Playing outdoors: there are playgrounds, slides, skate parks and crazy golf courses, and the beach itself of course remains the biggest playground of all.
Out on a go-kart: the long promenade is ideal for a spin on a hired go-kart or a family cycle, a classic on the Flemish coast.
Events
There is something on in Middelkerke all year round, and its themed weekends are famous for it.
June is all about flavour: the fish weekends and the beer weekend put the North Sea and Belgian brewing quite literally on the table.
A summer of fun: during the summer holidays the cartoon festival and the Happy Kids weekend follow one another, alongside plenty of beach activities.
Autumn with character: in autumn come the farming weekend and the champagne weekend, two very different ways to see out the season.
Sport on the programme: sporting events feature regularly on the calendar too, from beach runs to cycle races.
Explore the surroundings
Because Middelkerke sits halfway along the coast, everything is within reach, left and right.
By coastal tram: the coastal tram, the longest tram line in the world, stops in Middelkerke and takes you car-free from De Panne to Knokke-Heist, with every resort along the way as a possible stop.
Neighbours with character:Ostend is a quarter of an hour away with its promenade and maritime atmosphere, while Nieuwpoort has the largest marina in northern Europe.
Towns full of history: ideal day trips include the UNESCO heritage of Bruges, lively Ghent and the moving wartime past of Ypres.
Unspoilt nature: further along the coast lies De Westhoek, the largest dune reserve in Belgium, with a genuine sand desert where you could briefly imagine yourself in the Sahara.
Staying in Middelkerke
Anyone wanting to stay here is spoilt for choice, from luxurious to simple.
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 bungalows: 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 beach.
Hotels and B&Bs: from a cosy bed and breakfast to a well-appointed hotel, including the hotel inside SILT with sea views from almost every room.
Camping by the dunes: at the campsites nearby you sleep with the sound of wind and sea in the background. 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: Middelkerke is easily reached by car via the E40, taking the exit towards Middelkerke or Ostend. From the Netherlands you drive via Antwerp and Bruges, reaching the coast in around two hours.
By public transport: get off the train at Ostend and take the coastal tram or the bus, which brings you right up to the beach in a matter of minutes.
Parking: in high season finding a space near the promenade takes patience, and charges often apply there too. There is an underground car park beneath SILT; otherwise 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 exactly when the activity programme is in full swing. Spring and autumn offer calm, beautiful light and the themed weekends.
To sum it all up briefly, these are the things you should not miss in Middelkerke.
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.
The longest beach in the country, the most sunshine on the coast and a promenade that is alive from early morning to late at night: Middelkerke is the family resort you will happily return to year after year.
