Frequently asked questions about the beach in Oostduinkerke

Yes, the beach in Oostduinkerke is free to access.

• Costs: for example parking and renting a sunbed, windbreak or beach cabin.

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award, granted annually to beaches and marinas that participate in the campaign and have proven to be clean and safe.

The goal of the Blue Flag programme is to continuously involve governments, entrepreneurs, and recreational users in the care for clean and safe water, beautiful nature, and a healthy environment. Holding a Blue Flag is a recognition of the efforts made by the beach municipality or marina operator in this area. For tourists, the Blue Flag is internationally the recognition and quality symbol for good beaches and marinas.

What are the criteria for the beaches?

• The bathing water is of excellent quality.
• The beach is kept clean.
• There are enough toilets and waste bins on the beach.
• Rescue materials and a first aid post are available on the beach.
• Information activities are organized to protect the natural environment of the sea, beach, and dunes.

More information: https://www.blauwevlag.nl/

Yes, several beaches in Oostduinkerke have free outdoor showers in season.

• Including: Centrum, Twenty-One.
• Season: the beach showers are in place from early May to late September.

[Answer in Dutch]

TERNIER
centrum op het strand, t.h.v. openluchtzwembad
https://kabienen.be/
t. 058.52.16.62 (29/04-03/09) of
t. 058.23.71.30 (04-09-28/04)

No, Oostduinkerke has no naturist beach; the only official naturist beach in Belgium is in Bredene.

• Where: on the beach of Bredene, on the border with De Haan.

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All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://oostduinkerke.com/en/horseback-riding.php

No, as in all Belgian coastal municipalities, lighting a fire on the beach in Oostduinkerke is forbidden unless the municipality gives permission in advance.

• Barbecue: barbecues on the beach are not allowed without permission either.
• Permission: apply in good time to the municipality of Koksijde.

Yes, in the municipality of Koksijde you can borrow or rent a beach wheelchair at several places, including in Oostduinkerke.

• Calimero: Zeedijk 224, Koksijde, tel. +32 496 40 09 40.
• Rodeo: Georges Grardplein 19, Sint-Idesbald, electric chair too, tel. +32 495 25 40 83.
• Oostduinkerke: first aid post Centrum near Zeedijk 442 (tel. +32 58 51 59 40) and Groendijk, Zuidenwindhelling 1 (tel. +32 491 35 63 44), in July and August.
• Cost: manual chairs free, electric chairs for a fee.
• Use: you need someone to push, except with electric chairs.
• More information: overview of accessible beach facilities on the coast (Inter, in Dutch).

Het is in Oostduinkerke verboden vanaf het strand te hengelen in zee in de bewaakte zone tijdens de uren dat baden en zwemmen in zee toegelaten is.

Most shops, beach clubs, bars, terraces and restaurants remain open during the weekends in the low season. Many are also open throughout the week.

Each year the low season in Oostduinkerke begins after the autumn holidays till the beginning of the spring holidays. Several shops, beach clubs and restaurants use this period to rebuild, renew or for vacation. As a result, during this low season period, not all stores are opened every day.

Furthermore there is no general period when all the restaurants, bars and shops are closed. All entrepreneurs determine the temporary closure individually. Therefore is there are, also in the low season, enough shops and restaurants opened for you to enjoy.

• Dogs are prohibited on the beaches of Oostduinkerke during the period 1 June till 15 September between 10:30 till 18:30.
• Outside of the above mentioned period and time are only leased dogs allowed on the beaches of Oostduinkerke.

Further, we also recommend reading the information board, with the local beach rules, which is often placed near every beach (entrance).

Nearest beach for dogs at Oostduinkerke

Leashed dogs are allowed all year:

1. Sint-Idesbald: from the municipal border with De Panne to the Pieterlaan (approx. 350 metres),
2. Koksijde: between Elisabethplein and Sint-André (G. Scottlaan) (approx. 1,170 metres),
3. Oostduinkerke: between Felix Timmermanslaan and Paardevissersweg (Groenendijk) (approx. 1,625 metres).

The zones are marked on-site and can also be found in the brochure which you can download from the official Municipality of Koksijde website.

Current information on bathing water quality on the coast near Oostduinkerke is available from the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) (in Dutch).

• Bathing season: in summer the VMM and the Departement Zorg regularly test the water in the bathing zones along the coast.
• Swimming: preferably swim in a supervised zone and follow the flags and instructions of the lifeguards.

Kitesurfing is not allowed everywhere on the Belgian coast, only in designated zones, usually near a water sports club.

• Club: Surfclub Windekind, Zuidenwindhelling 1, Oostduinkerke, www.surfclub-windekind.be.
• Rules: follow the local clubs' rules and the lifeguards' instructions; during the bathing season kitesurfing is banned near the swimming zones.

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