Schipgat - Nature

The Schipgatduinen nature area lies between Koksijde and Oostduinkerke, stretching from the beach to the Koninklijke Baan.

What can you expect in the Schipgatduinen?

This dune area of around 45 hectares is a lovely place for a short walk through a varied and fragile stretch of coastal nature.

• Small but special dune area: The Schipgatduinen consist of foredunes, marram dunes, young dune formations with shrubs and an old shifting dune. This makes for a surprisingly varied landscape to walk through.
• A young dune landscape: The area is around 2000 years old. The name refers to an old Schipgat: a creek that was once connected to the sea and later silted up.
• Damp dune slack: Behind the dunes lies a deep dune slack where fresh rainwater regularly remains. As a result, plants grow here that you do not find everywhere in the dunes, such as water mint and delicate scarlet pimpernel.
• Sea holly: One of the eye-catchers of the area is the sea holly. This striking blue-grey plant grows mainly in rough, open places in the sea dunes and is a true coastal plant.
• Birds in the dunes: In summer, you may hear the grasshopper warbler here. This small songbird is especially noticeable for its reeling song, which sounds a little like a grasshopper.

Practical information

The Schipgatduinen are ideal for anyone who wants to get away from the bustle of the beach and seafront for a while. It is not a large nature area, but that is exactly what makes it so suitable for a short, relaxed walk with plenty of variety along the way.

• Starting point: A good place to start a walk is the car park at Elisabethplein in Koksijde.
• Access: The dune area is public and free to visit. Please stay on the paths, as nature here is fragile.
• Walking towards the Duinenhuis: A lovely walk leads from the sea towards the Duinenhuis Nature Education Centre. From the Duinenhuis, you also have a beautiful view over the dunes and the sea.

Visit the Schipgatduinen for a short but beautiful introduction to the dune nature between Koksijde and Oostduinkerke.

Furthermore Schipgat is near the following sights: Nature Education Centre Duinenhuis (±250 m), Visitor Centre De Doornpanne (±800 m), Doornpanne (±850 m), Hoge Blekker (±1,5 km) & Strandbad Oostduinkerke (±1,6 km).

For information

Rolandstraat, Koksijde