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Lakes

Zwin Dunes and Polders

Lakes

Zwin Dunes and Polders

Highlight • Natural

Zwin Dunes and Polders

Recommended by 258 hikers out of 263

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Location: Knokke-Heist, Bruges, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Zwin Dunes and Polders

4.5

(146)

1,135

hikers

1. Zwin Route

12.1km

03:03

20m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.6

(68)

533

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2. View of Het Zwin – Zwinduinen en -polders loop from Oosthoek

8.57km

02:10

10m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.7

(42)

283

hikers

3. Het Zwin Nature Reserve – View of Het Zwin loop from Oosthoek

22.2km

05:36

40m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Tips

VISITFLANDERS

September 8, 2021

With an area of 222 hectares, this approximately 200-year-old dune area forms a natural transition between sea, beach and polder.

Until the end of the 19th century, these dunes, forests, pastures and meadows were constantly changing under the influence of the sea. The area looked like today's Zwin; with mudflats, salt marshes and gullies closed off on the sea side by a belt of dunes. The Zwin dunes and polders only got their present form in 1872-1873, when the international dike was built to protect the area from the sea.

Since then, man has left clear traces here again and again: in the summer of 1929 the area was a golf course (although you had to putt and hit between sheep, because it was still used as pasture), shortly afterwards a horse racing track and riding arena were built. International show jumping competitions were held on it until the 1960s. The Kleyne Vlakte next door was even converted into a 40-acre airport in the early 1930s.

Even the world wars left their mark on this tactically important area. Large areas were concreted over.

In 2002 the Flemish government bought the area and from 2004 it was restored. Today you can experience it in "natural", if not really original splendor, with fauna and flora, which ultimately can only survive here thanks to careful human intervention.

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Tania L 🦮🌸🇧🇪

March 11, 2022

Sufficient walking paths where the dog is also welcome

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Timo

October 23, 2024

Very beautiful vast nature reserve very close to beach and sea. Walking, running, cycling, horse riding...

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Details

Informations

Elevation 10 m

Weather

Today

Friday 31 October

15°C

13°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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Location: Knokke-Heist, Bruges, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Zwin Dunes and Polders

1. Zwin Route

2. View of Het Zwin – Zwinduinen en -polders loop from Oosthoek

3. Het Zwin Nature Reserve – View of Het Zwin loop from Oosthoek

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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