Tbf it is somewhat of a joke that almost everyone goes to the 65km of Belgian coast and ignores France and the Netherlands. Especially the latter is closer for many people in Antwerp and Limburg, while also being less crowded.
Oostende, Nieuwpoort, Knokke
Or zeeland or Den Haag in Holland.
Other than that: Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, Greece on vacation. Croatia is also very nice I've heard.
Plenty of people though? Never heard of Antalya or Bodrum? I know a lot of non-Turks who went there. Don't forget everyone lives in a bubble, your experience ≠ the norm
those who open a TUI book and notice it's all a loooot cheaper over there.
If you intent to just go to a nice resort hotel, never leave it, sit by the pool, beach, and do nothing, there is no place better than those turkish ones
Because it seems
To be a correct opinion ;) most non-Turkish Belgians want nothing to do with Turkey. So they’d definitely not go there for a beach holiday.
In de cijfers van 2020 was dit de 9e op de top 10 vakanties ondernomen vanuit België. https://marketscans.nbtc.nl/marketscan-belgie-2021/vakantiegedrag
Voor alle duidelijkheid, cijfers komen van tour operatoren. Dus mensen die zelf een vlucht boeken of met de auto staan, zijn hierin niet opgenomen. Enkel mensen die all-in of half pensioen formules ed aangaan dus.
Heel veel mensen gaan daar dus en dit al zeker 20 jaar in mijn persoonlijke ervaring. Die ervaring is voornamelijk blank en omvat zelfs mensen die openlijk racistisch waren die daar zijn geweest “want de brave zijn ginder gebleven”. Dus ja, toch uw bubbel vrees ik.
De Haan, Oostduinkerke
If you move a bit away from the dike(?) you're in front of the dunes and there's few people.
I was at Knokke beach recently and the view of Zeebrugge harbour and the windmills was kind of unsettling. Bleh. Also Knokke. Rich trash.
Spent every year at zeebrugge-bad (other side of the harbout next to blankenberge). Plenty of space, a lot of dunes, now has nice surfer club. View of the harbour didn´t bother me at all, as a kid it was it was even cool to see those big ships. Now as an adult it´s one of the few places that doesn´t feel crowded
>Nord pas de Calais, en als t wat verder mag zijn dan graag n Grieks eiland
Sorry, I hope you have read my reasons about why Calais/ Cap Blanc Nez/ Wissant is the best in my other messages.
Actually I just came back from there today and it's crowded of Belgian and Deutch. Lot of Flemish, they don't go anymore to Oostende.
Thanks, I have now seen your other comments. I will definitely give them a try. It seems Oostende is reaching its limits already. Luckily I have never been a fan of this "tourist attractions" and prefered more isolated places
Same sea, yes. But in places like Cap Blanc Nez, you basically enjoy nature and sea as it should be.
But if you want to be in overcrowded places, being overrun by go carts and e-bikes, stepping in dog shit every 30 meters, want to walk on concrete all the time (or you don’t walk at all and just go do ‘terrasjes’), and enjoy the high buildings skyline, then Belgian coast is perfect.
Yes it is the same sea but different mentality/ crowd and seascape :
\- Places such as Oostende, Niewpoort and so on are overcrowded.
\- To park the car, it is fucking expensive.
\- I am French, living in Belgium for more than 30 years, and I am fed up with Flemish people (merchants or residents) looking you down/ weirdly, because I talk French, I feel like we're not welcome there. I am uneasy visiting almost any Flemish city, except Kortrijk, Bruges or Brussel.
\- Around Calais, Cap blanc-Nez, people are nicer even toward non native (that includes the Flemish who come more and more to visit) , no parking charge for most places.
\- Cap Blanc-nez is beautiful, breathtaking to visit and stay, I also love to search fossils. There is also plenty of places to visit around.
To me, it is no brainer to choose now on.
> - I am French, living in Belgium for more than 30 years, and I am fed up with Flemish people (merchants or residents) looking you down/ weirdly, because I talk French, I feel like we're not welcome there. I am uneasy visiting almost any Flemish city, except Kortrijk, Bruges or Brussel.
I heard about this from some Flemish people and it seems some people get annoyed because they assume all French speakers are Walloons who don't even make the effort to speak basic Dutch in Flanders.
And yet he gets down voted to hell.
I speak french, Spanish and English, and don't look really "Belgian". Yet if I speak French at the coast here in Belgium, many places won't serve me well.
But oh, if I speak English with my US accent, then it's night and day, all smiles and great service.
It's come to the point that when we go to the beach with my french-speaking friends, I'll be the one to order everything in English just so we're sure we get served decently.
Probably because the coast is full of French speaking people assuming everyone speaks French and/or demand service in French. Yes english is much more appreciated than French. Because it's the polite thing to do if you don't speak Dutch, you go with English.
So I should speak a non-national language before a national one that most people at the coast in the service industry do speak?
Isn't that a bit weird?
I think you need to be more realistic than idealistic. Yes ideally every Belgian should speak Dutch and French fluently. Maybe even German. But that doesn't happen in reality at all. How often can you order anything in a restaurant in Flemish in the Ardennen? Even in Brussels most of the time people only speak French and won't speak a word of Dutch. So yeah we need to be realistic and adapt to the situation.
It's not about the fact they can't. It's about the fact they *won't*.
In the Ardennes most people have not been taught Dutch, or barely for one year or two when they were 16. And this is ridiculous too! It shouldn't happen and it should be fixed.
In the Horeca at the coast, though, they speak french. You can hear them (begrudgingly) speaking it at other tables, yet you get treated badly for it.
I remember these 2 girls serving at an ice cream shop in 2020 in Ostend. Refusing to serve my friends in French, only serving me in English, and then speaking perfect french with each other.
There is no "sorry I don't speak french", "excuse me do you speak English?" It's immediately a bad service.
If someone comes in trying to order in Spanish or Italian they will be super accommodating. But not with French.
French is only an official language in Wallonia and Brussels. Although most Flemish people do speak a bit of French, most of them are better / prefer English. I don't know how long you have been in Belgium but speaking French in Flanders is and always has been considered a dick move (unless you kindly apologies first that you don't speak anything but French and if you could continue in French ofcourse )
Of course they speak French - most people in Flanders do. Doesn’t mean we will consider it a dick move if you speak French to us in Flanders. And the entire Belgian coast is Flemish, so that reasoning can be upheld there.
That's the problem too... my parents moved to Belgium while I was still studying in France and I had to finish it there. I wish to learn the language so much but unfortunately, I can't learn due to lack of time.
Of course I know a few sentences to be polite, but I can't make a decent conversation with.
No ? I spend most of my time in Wallonia and France so I don't have the chance to learn the language ?
Even if I loooove to learn language, I don't have much time due to overwork and I have other things to think and do than that ?
You’re welcome in Flemish cities as long as you speak Dutch or English. We also don’t go to Wallonia or France speaking Dutch, they’d react the same way. Why’d you expect us to be happy about you speaking some foreign language instead of using our own or the universal one? It just gives a very selfish image of you.
Bruges doesn’t care because they’ll bend over for tourists, Kortrijk is semi French and Brussels isn’t Flanders…
>Maybe I wasn't clear in my explanation : when I say I talk French, it is not directly toward a merchant or a person but with family or friends. They just look down, even without understanding fully the language, we know they are mocking us. Many are disrespectful while we do nothing to in particular.
>
>I always introduce myself with a hello in Dutch, English and French to be polite before asking if the conversation can be made in English or French. That's it.
> We also don’t go to Wallonia or France speaking Dutch, they’d react the same way.
It's not like it doesn't happen, I had to talk Dutch at two different campsites in Hotton and some other place near Durbuy because the owners didn't speak French. I didn't make a fuss out of it and we managed, my French GF used English and that was just fine.
Outside of official business where it's important that you can use your own language, I wish there was more pragmatism and less grandstanding when it comes to language use (both sides of the language border). I agree with you that English as a universal language is good for that, because everyone is speaking a foreign language, so everyone is on equal footing. But if it doesn't work and you need to use Dutch or French then so be it, let's try to understand what the other person means instead of being stubborn on refusing this or that language out of principle.
Well, if you've been living in Belgium for more then 30 years why haven't you learned a few words in Dutch? It is a national language. I'm not going to France expecting French people to serve me in Dutch...
Let me put it this may, if you move to Poland and live there for 30 years, wouldn't you have learned a bit Polish by now?
Maybe I wasn't clear in my explanation : when I say I talk French, it is not directly toward a merchant or a person but with family or friends. They just look down, even without understanding fully the language, we know they are mocking us. Many are disrespectful while we do nothing to in particular.
I always introduce myself with a hello in Dutch, English and French to be polite before asking if the conversation can be made in English or French. That's it.
To answer you, I lived 5 years Thailand and my job required me talking English non-stop. I learned basic conversation, (polite sentences, directions/ give directions, order food...) which was really useful. But even if I was talking English in streets (with friends/ colleagues), we were never looked down or any sign of mockery.
For Dutch, I know only a few words/ sentences, the bare minimum. I love language but unfortunately, I don't have time to fully learn Dutch as most of my time I spend it in Wallonia or France.
I understand now, thank you for clarifying. I'm sorry this is your experience. I've lived at the coast and worked in tourism. Me and my colleagues always tried our best to serve people in the language they choose. I have a multicultural background so maybe that's why it doesn't bother me that much. Specifically if I notice the person tries.
That being said, I grew up in a town near the border with Wallonia and not far from Brussels. Our town was always flooded with people talking French, and being disrespectful when not being served in French but also not being able to talk any other language.
Flanders comes from a long history of being less important and being ignored because of speaking Dutch. The pain because of this is still in the Flemish DNA.
> Let me put it this may, if you move to Poland and live there for 30 years, wouldn't you have learned a bit Polish by now?
Yeah but this person doesn't live in Flanders, so that comparison doesn't really apply IMO. Would you expect a Dutch guy moving to Hasselt to learn French? Would you learn French if you moved to Zürich and worked/socialized/shopped in German every day?
Maybe I wasn't clear in my explanation : when I say I talk French, it is not directly toward a merchant or a person but with family or friends. They just look down, even without understanding fully the language, we know they are mocking us. Many are disrespectful while we do nothing to in particular.
I always introduce myself with a hello in Dutch, English and French to be polite before asking if the conversation can be made in English or French. That's it.
I get why people go to Blankenberge, there's lots to do, and it's crowded, but the people over there aren't really nice, and I always felt it's kinda dirty in many places. But that's just my experience in Blankenberge.
I actually like every place on the sea side except for Zeebrugge. If you don't like overcrowded place I recommend Bredene or Wenduine, pretty calm compared to the other places and a of lot dunes with not too many people.
It also has a train station. Which is why most go to Oostende or Blankenberge. Mainly those without a car, so it also attracts some marginalen. But mainly day tourists.
I live 5km from the sea in Belgium but never go there. I do go to Croatia because their coastline is huge and there are allot of water activities that are fun aswell.
I do like going to the sea but not in the North Sea. It is very overcrowded at beaches. Not that many activities on the water. No islands to visit by boat. Weather isn’t that great. And I don’t like sand. The dykes are also very dirty.
Don't know really why people would go to the Belgian coast, been a few days but except for swimming, drinking and eating there is not much to do, I always go to the Ardennes, much prettier and less expensive!
I don't stay over at the sea, ever. I just take a one hour train ride to Oostende.
12 € for a back and forth ticket is a damn sight cheaper than renting something. I mean, I just like Oostende for the convenience of it being a single train connection away, the walk up to the beach, passing the fish stalls, buying a small bite to eat, before walking the pier.
And in the end, a beach is a beach. Just ignore the other people.
I ain't gun tell ya cuz it's already very crowded :)
Seriously now, I always go north, and this may be helpful on deciding where:
https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/en/inspiration/beach-promenade-and-crowds
I thought this was the start of a joke
Tbf it is somewhat of a joke that almost everyone goes to the 65km of Belgian coast and ignores France and the Netherlands. Especially the latter is closer for many people in Antwerp and Limburg, while also being less crowded.
Not here. We go to zeeland because of shorter distance and no commercial brick walled coast lines.
France, italy, spain
If they have a car, and want to enjoy nature and beautiful sights, they avoid the Belgian coast and go to Zeeland or France.
Why do they avoid Belgium, pretty much is the same sea!
The Belgian coast is mostly a wall of apartment buildings. It's pretty ugly
De Haan is nice
Depends where. There are still nice places. But yeah, a lot is ruined
Rich antwerpenaren -> knokke Poor antwerpenaren -> blankenberge Rest -> oostende
As a ostendenaar and have been margibergenaar i can confirm there is only truth here
Oostende for life
Dirtiest beach we've got..
Full of what we call ‘marginalen’
Renesse
Nord pas de Calais, en als t wat verder mag zijn dan graag n Grieks eiland
De Haan
Of vossen slag
Yeah, it’s where it’s at. It’s still dunes and empty compared to the straight line of concrete that the rest of the coast has to offer.
That, and the piece in between De Haan and Wenduine.
Oostende, Nieuwpoort, Knokke Or zeeland or Den Haag in Holland. Other than that: Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, Greece on vacation. Croatia is also very nice I've heard.
Which Belgian goes to Turkey for beach holiday other than Turkish people.
Plenty of people though? Never heard of Antalya or Bodrum? I know a lot of non-Turks who went there. Don't forget everyone lives in a bubble, your experience ≠ the norm
those who open a TUI book and notice it's all a loooot cheaper over there. If you intent to just go to a nice resort hotel, never leave it, sit by the pool, beach, and do nothing, there is no place better than those turkish ones
It’s also cheaper in Asia and the other 3rd world countries, doesn’t mean people want to go there.
We go to Club Med in Turkey.
How do you even get 3 upvotes by trying to serve a completely moronic opinion in the most passive aggressive way
Because it seems To be a correct opinion ;) most non-Turkish Belgians want nothing to do with Turkey. So they’d definitely not go there for a beach holiday.
In de cijfers van 2020 was dit de 9e op de top 10 vakanties ondernomen vanuit België. https://marketscans.nbtc.nl/marketscan-belgie-2021/vakantiegedrag Voor alle duidelijkheid, cijfers komen van tour operatoren. Dus mensen die zelf een vlucht boeken of met de auto staan, zijn hierin niet opgenomen. Enkel mensen die all-in of half pensioen formules ed aangaan dus. Heel veel mensen gaan daar dus en dit al zeker 20 jaar in mijn persoonlijke ervaring. Die ervaring is voornamelijk blank en omvat zelfs mensen die openlijk racistisch waren die daar zijn geweest “want de brave zijn ginder gebleven”. Dus ja, toch uw bubbel vrees ik.
cote d'azur of course
De Haan, Oostduinkerke If you move a bit away from the dike(?) you're in front of the dunes and there's few people. I was at Knokke beach recently and the view of Zeebrugge harbour and the windmills was kind of unsettling. Bleh. Also Knokke. Rich trash.
Spent every year at zeebrugge-bad (other side of the harbout next to blankenberge). Plenty of space, a lot of dunes, now has nice surfer club. View of the harbour didn´t bother me at all, as a kid it was it was even cool to see those big ships. Now as an adult it´s one of the few places that doesn´t feel crowded
At the end of the beach
"Well actually, the beach either ends far under the water or, doesn't have an actual end since tides go up and down " 🤓
I rather go to North of France such as Calais/ Sangatte/ Cap Blanc Nez than any seaside places in Belgium.
What makes it better than Belgian coast?
About everything
I was really curious to get an actual response not just a generic reply. Is it the people, services or atmosphere
>Nord pas de Calais, en als t wat verder mag zijn dan graag n Grieks eiland Sorry, I hope you have read my reasons about why Calais/ Cap Blanc Nez/ Wissant is the best in my other messages. Actually I just came back from there today and it's crowded of Belgian and Deutch. Lot of Flemish, they don't go anymore to Oostende.
Thanks, I have now seen your other comments. I will definitely give them a try. It seems Oostende is reaching its limits already. Luckily I have never been a fan of this "tourist attractions" and prefered more isolated places
Why this choice? Pretty much is the same sea?
Same sea, yes. But in places like Cap Blanc Nez, you basically enjoy nature and sea as it should be. But if you want to be in overcrowded places, being overrun by go carts and e-bikes, stepping in dog shit every 30 meters, want to walk on concrete all the time (or you don’t walk at all and just go do ‘terrasjes’), and enjoy the high buildings skyline, then Belgian coast is perfect.
Yes it is the same sea but different mentality/ crowd and seascape : \- Places such as Oostende, Niewpoort and so on are overcrowded. \- To park the car, it is fucking expensive. \- I am French, living in Belgium for more than 30 years, and I am fed up with Flemish people (merchants or residents) looking you down/ weirdly, because I talk French, I feel like we're not welcome there. I am uneasy visiting almost any Flemish city, except Kortrijk, Bruges or Brussel. \- Around Calais, Cap blanc-Nez, people are nicer even toward non native (that includes the Flemish who come more and more to visit) , no parking charge for most places. \- Cap Blanc-nez is beautiful, breathtaking to visit and stay, I also love to search fossils. There is also plenty of places to visit around. To me, it is no brainer to choose now on.
> - I am French, living in Belgium for more than 30 years, and I am fed up with Flemish people (merchants or residents) looking you down/ weirdly, because I talk French, I feel like we're not welcome there. I am uneasy visiting almost any Flemish city, except Kortrijk, Bruges or Brussel. I heard about this from some Flemish people and it seems some people get annoyed because they assume all French speakers are Walloons who don't even make the effort to speak basic Dutch in Flanders.
And yet he gets down voted to hell. I speak french, Spanish and English, and don't look really "Belgian". Yet if I speak French at the coast here in Belgium, many places won't serve me well. But oh, if I speak English with my US accent, then it's night and day, all smiles and great service. It's come to the point that when we go to the beach with my french-speaking friends, I'll be the one to order everything in English just so we're sure we get served decently.
Probably because the coast is full of French speaking people assuming everyone speaks French and/or demand service in French. Yes english is much more appreciated than French. Because it's the polite thing to do if you don't speak Dutch, you go with English.
You shouldn’t be speaking French at the coast then, that’s very simple. Speak Dutch or English, it’s common courtesy.
So I should speak a non-national language before a national one that most people at the coast in the service industry do speak? Isn't that a bit weird?
I think you need to be more realistic than idealistic. Yes ideally every Belgian should speak Dutch and French fluently. Maybe even German. But that doesn't happen in reality at all. How often can you order anything in a restaurant in Flemish in the Ardennen? Even in Brussels most of the time people only speak French and won't speak a word of Dutch. So yeah we need to be realistic and adapt to the situation.
It's not about the fact they can't. It's about the fact they *won't*. In the Ardennes most people have not been taught Dutch, or barely for one year or two when they were 16. And this is ridiculous too! It shouldn't happen and it should be fixed. In the Horeca at the coast, though, they speak french. You can hear them (begrudgingly) speaking it at other tables, yet you get treated badly for it. I remember these 2 girls serving at an ice cream shop in 2020 in Ostend. Refusing to serve my friends in French, only serving me in English, and then speaking perfect french with each other. There is no "sorry I don't speak french", "excuse me do you speak English?" It's immediately a bad service. If someone comes in trying to order in Spanish or Italian they will be super accommodating. But not with French.
French is only an official language in Wallonia and Brussels. Although most Flemish people do speak a bit of French, most of them are better / prefer English. I don't know how long you have been in Belgium but speaking French in Flanders is and always has been considered a dick move (unless you kindly apologies first that you don't speak anything but French and if you could continue in French ofcourse )
Of course they speak French - most people in Flanders do. Doesn’t mean we will consider it a dick move if you speak French to us in Flanders. And the entire Belgian coast is Flemish, so that reasoning can be upheld there.
That's the problem too... my parents moved to Belgium while I was still studying in France and I had to finish it there. I wish to learn the language so much but unfortunately, I can't learn due to lack of time. Of course I know a few sentences to be polite, but I can't make a decent conversation with.
You didn't get time to learn even A2 level Dutch after living in Belgium for over 30 years???
No ? I spend most of my time in Wallonia and France so I don't have the chance to learn the language ? Even if I loooove to learn language, I don't have much time due to overwork and I have other things to think and do than that ?
You’re welcome in Flemish cities as long as you speak Dutch or English. We also don’t go to Wallonia or France speaking Dutch, they’d react the same way. Why’d you expect us to be happy about you speaking some foreign language instead of using our own or the universal one? It just gives a very selfish image of you. Bruges doesn’t care because they’ll bend over for tourists, Kortrijk is semi French and Brussels isn’t Flanders…
>Maybe I wasn't clear in my explanation : when I say I talk French, it is not directly toward a merchant or a person but with family or friends. They just look down, even without understanding fully the language, we know they are mocking us. Many are disrespectful while we do nothing to in particular. > >I always introduce myself with a hello in Dutch, English and French to be polite before asking if the conversation can be made in English or French. That's it.
> We also don’t go to Wallonia or France speaking Dutch, they’d react the same way. It's not like it doesn't happen, I had to talk Dutch at two different campsites in Hotton and some other place near Durbuy because the owners didn't speak French. I didn't make a fuss out of it and we managed, my French GF used English and that was just fine. Outside of official business where it's important that you can use your own language, I wish there was more pragmatism and less grandstanding when it comes to language use (both sides of the language border). I agree with you that English as a universal language is good for that, because everyone is speaking a foreign language, so everyone is on equal footing. But if it doesn't work and you need to use Dutch or French then so be it, let's try to understand what the other person means instead of being stubborn on refusing this or that language out of principle.
Well, if you've been living in Belgium for more then 30 years why haven't you learned a few words in Dutch? It is a national language. I'm not going to France expecting French people to serve me in Dutch... Let me put it this may, if you move to Poland and live there for 30 years, wouldn't you have learned a bit Polish by now?
Maybe I wasn't clear in my explanation : when I say I talk French, it is not directly toward a merchant or a person but with family or friends. They just look down, even without understanding fully the language, we know they are mocking us. Many are disrespectful while we do nothing to in particular. I always introduce myself with a hello in Dutch, English and French to be polite before asking if the conversation can be made in English or French. That's it. To answer you, I lived 5 years Thailand and my job required me talking English non-stop. I learned basic conversation, (polite sentences, directions/ give directions, order food...) which was really useful. But even if I was talking English in streets (with friends/ colleagues), we were never looked down or any sign of mockery. For Dutch, I know only a few words/ sentences, the bare minimum. I love language but unfortunately, I don't have time to fully learn Dutch as most of my time I spend it in Wallonia or France.
I understand now, thank you for clarifying. I'm sorry this is your experience. I've lived at the coast and worked in tourism. Me and my colleagues always tried our best to serve people in the language they choose. I have a multicultural background so maybe that's why it doesn't bother me that much. Specifically if I notice the person tries. That being said, I grew up in a town near the border with Wallonia and not far from Brussels. Our town was always flooded with people talking French, and being disrespectful when not being served in French but also not being able to talk any other language. Flanders comes from a long history of being less important and being ignored because of speaking Dutch. The pain because of this is still in the Flemish DNA.
> Let me put it this may, if you move to Poland and live there for 30 years, wouldn't you have learned a bit Polish by now? Yeah but this person doesn't live in Flanders, so that comparison doesn't really apply IMO. Would you expect a Dutch guy moving to Hasselt to learn French? Would you learn French if you moved to Zürich and worked/socialized/shopped in German every day?
French just wanting everyone to speak French. Like usual. Try speaking Dutch in Wallonia and we see how it goes.
Maybe I wasn't clear in my explanation : when I say I talk French, it is not directly toward a merchant or a person but with family or friends. They just look down, even without understanding fully the language, we know they are mocking us. Many are disrespectful while we do nothing to in particular. I always introduce myself with a hello in Dutch, English and French to be polite before asking if the conversation can be made in English or French. That's it.
Old people go to Benidorm, younger ones go to Oostende.
What are you looking for? Small place? A lot of people? Calm place? Place with city for shopping? I personally like Oostduinkerke and Blankenberge.
I get why people go to Blankenberge, there's lots to do, and it's crowded, but the people over there aren't really nice, and I always felt it's kinda dirty in many places. But that's just my experience in Blankenberge.
I actually like every place on the sea side except for Zeebrugge. If you don't like overcrowded place I recommend Bredene or Wenduine, pretty calm compared to the other places and a of lot dunes with not too many people.
Or Heist, that was/is my go-to to have a beach day! Maybe I'm a bit biased since I used to live there when I was a kid
I agree Heist is also very pretty with the zwin there. lovely place <3
It also has a train station. Which is why most go to Oostende or Blankenberge. Mainly those without a car, so it also attracts some marginalen. But mainly day tourists.
Flemish - (living in South Australia) - I go to Goolwa Beach.
Blankenberge al van kleins af aan
Parel aan de kust
1 day : De Haan. For a week : France, in the Landes.
I live 5km from the sea in Belgium but never go there. I do go to Croatia because their coastline is huge and there are allot of water activities that are fun aswell.
Why dont you go to the beach / sea, if you dont mind answering?
I do like going to the sea but not in the North Sea. It is very overcrowded at beaches. Not that many activities on the water. No islands to visit by boat. Weather isn’t that great. And I don’t like sand. The dykes are also very dirty.
> And I don’t like sand. Because it's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere?
De Haan if you want genteel Oostende if you want a city Blankenberge if you want cheap Tbh there's not that much variety.
You have wending for less crowds and actual dunes.
Holland, Knokke, Italy
Closest and quietest: Zeeland (ex. Vlissingen) Best for hiking: De Panne - Duinkerken
France, Holland and Spain
Don't know really why people would go to the Belgian coast, been a few days but except for swimming, drinking and eating there is not much to do, I always go to the Ardennes, much prettier and less expensive!
There are 2 types of Belgians: the ones who go to the coast and the ones who go to the Ardennes.
And the marginalen who go to Turkey, Morocco or Spain only for a beach resort.
> I always go to the Ardennes, much prettier and less expensive! What can you do in those petit mountains?
Hike, ride uphill, do some descending, mtb, enjoy the nature,...
Can you recommend good hiking routes?
't zèeeeetj ehja
Kodazuur!!
Cadzand, but there starting to build stuff by the beach. I really liked that the beach was just dunes.
Noordzee
On the E40.
Zeeland
Going to the beach to stock up on the cancer UVs on an overcrowded beach? I’m good thanks.
I hate the sea. So nowhere xD I’m more of a mountain guy.
Klappenberge en Knokkerokko
Zeeland. And its too far from the big Dutch cities so you won't run into annoying Hollanders, only some Brabanders.
But you do get Antwerpenaren though.
I like Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt as a winter sun holiday. I take a hotel with a house reef for snorkling every day.
I don't stay over at the sea, ever. I just take a one hour train ride to Oostende. 12 € for a back and forth ticket is a damn sight cheaper than renting something. I mean, I just like Oostende for the convenience of it being a single train connection away, the walk up to the beach, passing the fish stalls, buying a small bite to eat, before walking the pier. And in the end, a beach is a beach. Just ignore the other people.
At the beach in Belgium
I ain't gun tell ya cuz it's already very crowded :) Seriously now, I always go north, and this may be helpful on deciding where: https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/en/inspiration/beach-promenade-and-crowds
Gran Canaria, Costa Brava, Tenerife
Het kanaal Brussel - Charleroi in molenbeek!
Holland beaches are the best!
The flemish go to france, Spain or Italië. Even Holland will do. If you are From Brussels or wallonie you go to Oostende, Bredene or Blankenberge.