De Haan beach

Despite the impressive flow of tourists, De Haan managed to maintain his charm thanks to the competent policy of local authorities. It is forbidden to build buildings on the shore above five floors, and the main housing stock is snow-white villas and small houses in the Anglo-Norman style, buried in the dense greenery of the surrounding forests.

The twelve-kilometer coastline is covered with delicate golden sand and is conditionally divided into several zones. In the southern part, lovers of active beach activities such as paragliding, surfing, water skiing usually gather. Here is the official nudist beach, the only one in Flanders. Closer to the center, the beach becomes more crowded and lively, families with children and youth companies prefer to relax here. This part is equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, there are tents from the wind, beach bars and children's towns. The northern part is the most secluded, disposing to a quiet measured pastime alone with nature.

The sea in De Haan is shallow and thanks to this it warms up well. In summer, you can often see kids frolic in the waves, which is a rather unusual picture for the Belgian coast.

When is the best time to go?

The swimming season on the west coast of Belgium usually lasts from June to September, when seawater warms up to 19 degrees, and the air temperature goes up to 23-25. But even at the height of the season, strong winds blow on the coast, that are worth taken into account when planning a vacation with very small children.