Hidden gems in Oostduinkerke
Besides the beach and the dunes, Oostduinkerke has a few places and traditions that many visitors overlook.
- Christ on the tower: between the village and the sea in Oostduinkerke stands the Sint-Niklaaskerk by architect Jean Gilson, built in the 1950s after the old church burned out in 1940. A 13.5 metre figure of Christ by Czech artist Arnost Gause, the largest cast terracotta statue, hangs on the tower. Covered walkways around a quiet courtyard link the tower to the church.
- Shrimp fishing on horseback: nowhere else in the world are shrimps still caught on horseback. On the beach of Oostduinkerke the fishermen lead their heavy draught horses into the surf, while a chain dragged over the seabed makes the shrimps jump into the funnel-shaped net. The tradition has been on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage since 2013, and outside winter they head into the sea regularly.
- A gravestone by Horta: the cemetery of Oostduinkerke is the resting place of painter and etcher Louis Artan, who died in 1890 in what was then Oostduinkerke. His tombstone was designed by Victor Horta, the great name of Art Nouveau, and paid for by a collection among his fellow artists.
Practical tips
These tips help you get even more out of your visit to Oostduinkerke.
- Tides: plan a beach walk or a bike ride along the coast with the tide table.
- The weather: the weather page shows the forecast and hours of sunshine for the coming days.
- By bike: most sights are easy to reach by bike.
» View our complete 'see & do' list with many more museums, attractions, monuments and other places of interest.