Bruges is known far and wide for its historical and cultural heritage. The historic city center in its entirety is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. But in addition to the romantic city views full of bridges and charming lantern-lit squares, the capital of West Flanders also has a vibrant commercial and cultural life, which the many good restaurants bring together (8 minute drive).

Activities in Bruges:

Canal rides, Lovers Bridge and Lake of Love, Bruges Markt, Chcolatier Dumon, The North Sea

Damme is located between Bruges and the Dutch border. Time seems to have stood still in the picturesque town. Here life thrives on the rhythm of the slow Damse Vaart. The many restaurants make Damme a real country of relaxation, where the legendary spirit of Tijl Uilenspiegel is never far away. The many bookshops and the biweekly book market make this book village an ideal place for those who like to find without having to search. The municipality has many sights, including the typical white stepped gables that surround the old market square. While this was an important port city centuries ago, today Damme is enveloped in a serene beauty that can delight many. (9 minute drive).

Knokke-Heist may be located on the Dutch border, but the municipality is anything but an edge case. The village center of Het Zoute (Le Zoute) in particular resonates like a bell, for people who want to see and be seen. With the unspoilt nature of the Zwin nature reserve and the North Sea itself as the main attractions, Knokke also enjoys a richly filled activities calendar in all seasons, where gastronomy, culture and going out are central (25 minute drive).

Together with Nieuwpoort, Ostend is the only city on the Belgian coast. The old fishing village of yesteryear grew into this “king of seaside resorts”. The City by the Sea allowed and continues to allow artists such as James Ensor, Léon Spilliaert, but also Marvin Gaye and Arno to flow in and out like an ebb and flow. The marina and the long dike are of course the main attractions. But the many museums, sights and events in this city also make it resistant to Belgian weather all year round (30 minute drive).

The old fortified town of Sluis, in the Dutch province of Zeeland, has a lasting appeal among Belgians. The appearance of the historic city center, with its typical belfry, is also somewhere between Flemish and Dutch cities. The big difference is that the shops here are open 7 days a week, which means that many people take the opportunity to combine a shopping Sunday with gastronomic pleasure in this pleasant town. Sluis has a short name, but has a long and rich history. However, his Burgundian nature continues to live on to this day (28 minute drive).

The Ryckevelde nature reserve is adjacent to the Ten Torre domain. It is an enormous green lung, just east of Bruges, with no less than 173 hectares of freely accessible forests and nature. The heathland of Scrimgeour's Heights is now protected as a nature reserve. Hikers who stay on the trails are allowed. Dogs, however, are not, due to the presence of wooded landscapes.

Another treasure in these forests is the beautiful nature educational native garden where visitors can discover the typical landscape features and biotopes of the poor sandy soils of this region on a limited surface area. The walking path is also suitable for wheelchair users. Thanks to the guide line and Braille signs, blind and partially sighted people can also enjoy the native garden perfectly.

With an area of ​​no less than 90 square kilometers, this provincial domain is the most wooded area in the entire West Flanders. It extends over the municipalities of Oostkamp, ​​Beernem, Ruiselede, Wingene and Aalter. In addition to a visitor center and a herb garden, this domain is home to kilometers of walking and cycling paths. The Bulskampveld walking network alone offers more than 150 kilometers of walking pleasure. The recreational opportunities are endless. For example, there are the adventurous courses of “Expeditie Bulskampveld” that can be undertaken with or without children. There are also family quests, hands-on and discovery exhibitions, and much more.

The Zwin estuary was once the connection between Bruges and the North Sea. After it silted up, the large ships could no longer reach the port of Bruges. Today, the Zwin Nature Park is a renowned nature reserve, protected since 1939. Its unique character is due to the regular flooding. It creates a tidal landscape, where many sea and water birds like to dwell. In 2019, the Zwin was expanded by an area of ​​110 hectares. Since the same year, the Zwin has been crossed by a cycle path from Knokke to Cadzand, in other words: the Dutch part of the Zwin.