The best hikes from bus stations around Calmeynbos

Beaufort art seems to peek around every corner here. For his work "Cast Away," sculptor Michael Rakowitz immersed himself in the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo in May 1940. The Belgian army surrendered at that time, and thousands of soldiers were taken prisoner of war. The English ship HMS Wakeful, which brought 640 Allies to the English coast, was torpedoed and is now a protected war grave on the Belgian seabed. Rakowitz had local objects connected to war stories selected and incorporated them into a war memorial that, due to rising sea levels, will one day be submerged. As you might have guessed, the work is also inspired by the film "Cast Away."

"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 spider often has negative connotations: it's a dirty little creature, it can be dangerous, etc. But Monique Mol uses the spider as a symbol of (feminine) creative power: the spider weaves a web of connection and solidarity. Source: https://www.strandverblijf.be/nl/wandelingen/beeldenroute-de-panne

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

This semi-detached cottage-style house, designed by architect Georges Hobé, dates from around 1900. The entrance to villa Les Eglantines (French for honey briar) is shared with that of villa Les Argousiers (French for sea buckthorn) and is situated beneath a projecting gable roof of slate. The bricks are painted, and the windows are strongly divided. The pseudo-half-timbering is reminiscent of Normandy architecture. However, on our coast, we rarely encounter true half-timbering; the beam structure is not made of wood and is not part of the load-bearing elements of the facade. What we see is imitation or pseudo-half-timbering, a stucco grid with a thin wooden cladding that is, as it were, glued to the facade. Therefore, we cannot speak of a structural function. Another typical feature of the Belle Époque period found in the facade of the semi-detached house is the separate cellar entrance for the staff. It reflects the "upstairs, downstairs" principle and allows the staff to work quietly yet efficiently. The basement houses the kitchen, laundry room, ironing room, and storage and pantry spaces, among other things. The "monte-plats," a small elevator, brings prepared dishes close to the dining room, where a servant can serve them quickly and discreetly. Source: Walking Guide Heritage Walk De Panne

For the affluent middle class, the sea wall served as a kind of urban boulevard at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, perfect for strolling. Not only the sea wall, but also the buildings along it reflect this urban living culture. The villas form a continuous development and are situated on narrow plots. Furthermore, the facades always face the sea, ensuring optimal views of the beach and the water. All these characteristics are still evident in Villa Doudou. This cottage-style house from 1901 was designed by Albert and Alexis Dumont and was originally called "Titikot." It is a narrow, deep house with three stories under a mansard roof. The sea view clearly takes precedence here, as the front door is located on the first floor (half a floor above street level) and opens directly onto the living room, making the living space the width of the building plot. The use of beveled windows also contributes to this effect. The house has a separate service entrance that leads directly into the basement and is intended for staff. The villa is a protected monument, but today it sits wedged between two tall apartment buildings, a typical image of current coastal development. Source: Walking Guide Heritage Walk De Panne

De Panne's beach is the widest in Belgium and lies near the French border at the western tip of the Flemish coast. This makes De Panne the westernmost coastal municipality before you set foot in France. A mix of this French flair, nature, sports, and the wide beach await you.