The Flemish nature reserve De Westhoek extends over almost 350 hectares. In 1935, De Westhoek was protected as a landscape. In 1957, the area was the very first Flemish nature reserve to receive the status of a state nature reserve. Together with the adjacent Calmeynbos and the Krakeelduinen, the Oosthoekduinen and the French dunes of Le Perroquet, De Westhoek forms the largest contiguous dune massif on our coast. The Westhoek is part of the varied and extensive Dunes and Forests of De Panne. Foredune dunes, walking dunes, parabolic dunes, gray and blonde dunes: one dune is certainly not the same as the other. More or less parallel to the coastline you can distinguish different 'belts': the beach, the front dunes, the northern pan belt, the central drift dune, the southern pan belt and the inner dunes. More than 400 species of plants grow in the Westhoek. Many special mosses, liverworts and lichens also flourish in De Westhoek. Beaches and dunes are a real attraction for various birds such as wheatear and crested lark and migratory birds such as hen harrier and redwing. Bird lovers will always find a wide variety in De Westhoek: stonechat, chiffchaff and warbler are regular guests.
In the spring, the dune pools of the Westhoek are the ideal spawning ground for the European protected natterjack toad and great crested newt.