The ultimate guide to visiting Knokke, Belgium's St. Tropez

Being one of only ten coastal municipalities along the Belgian 64-kilometer long shoreline, Knokke is a chic seaside resort town located in the northern corner of West Flanders. Never-ending beaches, renowned dining and nightlife scene is what makes Knokke known as Belgium’s answer to St. Tropez. A few things set Knokke apart from the other beach towns in Belgium – mainly its reputation as a place where Belgium’s wealthiest people like to spend their free time and money. Knokke is one of the richest communes in Belgium, and many of Belgium’s richest citizens have their holiday houses there. However, this does not mean that those of us that do not drive a Ferrari cannot spend an affordable afternoon here without going broke. Here is my ultimate guide to visiting Knokke

The beach

The beach is the obvious attraction that draws a lot of people to Knokke. During the summer, this really is the place to be to cool down in Belgium. Spend an afternoon lying on the beach, venture into the sea (keep in mind that even during the summer the water temperature rarely rises above 20 degrees Celsius) and have a drink in one of the many beach bars. What more could you want? 

Shops, restaurants and more

If you decide to really explore the town and stay for a few days or if you just get unlucky with the weather then there is a myriad of art galleries, fashion boutiques and restaurants that cater to both the wealthy inhabitants and day tourists. The main street where you find the majority of the shops and restaurants is the “Lippenslaan”. This street, along with its side streets, starts by the beach and stretches back about a kilometer and forms Knokke’s main hub. It is an interesting place for window shopping, a fancy meal or rubbernecking.

Also on the beach, you will find Belgium's largest Casino. Venture out a bit from the beach, and you can try your hand at a game of minigolf.

Nature

Even though Knokke comes across as a resort town, venture away from the coast by just a few kilometers, and scenes like these can be found.

If you walk along the beach, eventually you will reach the Zwin Nature Park, which was Belgium’s first nature reserve. Part of the park stretches across the border into the Netherlands, and it is a great place to go for walks and explore the unique flora and fauna of the region that includes rare sea lavender and one of the few places in Belgium where you can spot storks if you go at the right time of the year.

As you could see in this ultimate guide, Knokke has a lot to offer. It is much more than just a place to cool down in the ocean during the summer. Some of Belgium’s most pristine nature can be found here right next to one of Belgium’s most popular beach. During the winter, it is a great place to go shopping for an afternoon and to walk along the beach and enjoy the sunset (or the sunrise for the early birds). So, when you have a chance, visit Belgium's St. Tropez by yourself, and I promise it will not disappoint!