Short history (the boring part)
Belgium exists since 1830. The name is much older. The Romans called the area Gallia Belgica, hence Celtic Belgae.
The etymology of the ethnic name Belgae comes from Proto-Celtic meaning “to swell” particularly with anger/battle fury. Belgians still pride in being named “the bravest of all Gauls” by a certain illustrious Julius Caesar (“Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae”). Interestingly Gallia Belgica is located on European mainland by the Romans, the Celtic Belgae later migrated/raided/ventured/colonised (depending on source) modern Winchester area, southwest England, extending into Somerset and Avon.
People worldwide are familiar with the Dutch and their efforts to battle the elements, specifically water and wind. The province is called West Flanders, named after the highly successful medieval principality in the southwest of the Low Countries, now included in the French (Upper France region), The Belgian provinces of East and West Flanders, and the Dutch province of Zeeland (literally Sea Land, you might recognize New Zealand now). In less than 300 years the area has three distinct languages and multiple dialects. In the French area the older generations still speak and/or understand Flemish. Before the euro they region even accepted Belgian currency and you may have heard of train station Lille-Flandres. Unfortunately current borders reduced the number of Flemish speakers. Perhaps need to inform that the local dialects are pretty difficult for other Flemish and Dutch speakers.
War enthusiasts, history buffs, pensioners meet nature lovers
Did you really believe the Belgian coastline was just apartment blocks? Well, not entirely… Can I entice you by mentioning I barely saw people on my hikes? It was mainly dogwalkers.Yes, it was September (school has restarted for primary and secondary education) but there was still plenty of tourists, most from neighboring countries.
If you want to educate yourself on life in war, how civilians lived and survived, etc our coastline offers plenty. Most known is perhaps Atlantikwall Raversyde but also Ypres will ring a bell (or the last post) and Flandres Fields, but there is more.
- Ostend’s Creeks hiking trail
- Ter Yde
- Schuddebeurze hike
- Waterside path
- Yser Estuary trail
Ostend’s Creek hiking trail
My registered hiking details (plus extra photos): https://loc.wiki/t/232212114?wa=sc
One specific nature area was man-made to protect the people from foreign invaders, in this case Spaniards (80 Year’s War). The trail is called Ostend’s Creeks hiking trail:
The Sea Beggars* or Geuzen (in Dutch), which were actually the local elites robbed by the same Spaniards, broke the dykes which created these creeks.
* Britannica, as many people, seem to forget that whatever is attributed to the Dutch is not only current the Netherlands as if Belgium rose out of the sea in 1830, or fell out of the sky. Just saying since (County of) Flanders’ city of Bruges golden era was succeeded by Antwerp (Duchy of Brabant) golden period and then, thanks to the same Spaniards most of Antwerp citizens fled north where (coincidentally?) Amsterdam experienced their golden era. The rebels were not just “Dutch”.
Also worth noting that this (photo above) is how most of the coastline is supposed to look. Forests were man-made. Many areas are being restored to its natural state. Bizarrely it is cause for dispute between nature activists. I really understand people being upset that trees are being removed. They actually do not belong there… Those trees were planted for aesthetic reasons and also exotic plants have escaped from gardens. I found this article with more detailed information (seems like many coastal areas suffer the same faith): https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1113876/full
Ter Yde
My registered hiking details (plus extra photos): https://loc.wiki/t/229949063?wa=sc
Besides the GR footpath (long distance hiking trail) Coastal path, I hiked many other trails. This one is quite high on many popularity lists even nationwide.
Ter Yde literally means “at the harbor” but think way back to a time before modern maritime facilities, so natural harbors (to protect medieval ships during storms). Local place name often reveal plenty about how the area was like when it was named and how it has changed. The trail is located in Koksijde (ijde, ide yde all mean the same) but the area no longer has any natural harbor. The first part of the place name is difficult to explain. The current landscape is not as it was, neither is our language. No, no links to the English cock nor the current Dutch word for chef (kok) or where do you think your word for cook comes from? Further up the coastline, in current Zeeland, is also a Koksijde.
Why is it so difficult to understand? As I mentioned the 80 year war was the reason for many grievance. Basically religion was the culprit. Since it was mainly monks who could write and “scorched earth policy” was already in use, not everything could be replicated later. Hence many different points of views, theories, etc. Hypotheses include the cockle (mollusc), the name of the owner of the first shipping company as locally plenty of toponyms start with cox-, “kok” was also used for a round mound or dune. Local history also informs me that the actual town moved several times over the centuries which obviously makes it more difficult to make an educated guess.
The trail itself takes you right to the seadyke and into the dunes. The highest dune is nearby but not include in this hike. I assume it would be less popular otherwise. Unfortunately the final quarter is through residential area.
Schuddebeurze hike
My registered hiking details (plus extra photos): https://loc.wiki/t/231619930?wa=sc
In Middelkerke, right next to Ostend, this hike will take you from marina Nieuwpoort (Newport) via De Ganzepoot (responsible for inundation) to Field battery Bamburg, Schuddebeurze. The name Schuddebeurze might refer to the dangers you might encounter when on the road. ‘Schudden’ translates to ‘shake’ and ‘beurs’ is pretty similar to ‘purse’. I ended my hike with the same amount of money as I started. I was however unaware the hike was war-themed. The drawing on the waymark only started to make sense once I noticed the field battery.
De Haan heritage walking route
My registered hiking details (plus extra photos): https://loc.wiki/t/230312888?wa=sc
Many surprising guests once lived in De Haan (house below). On top of that this place has a list of famous inhabitants or residents. The man in the picture resided a few months in De Haan awaiting his boat to the new world. He even invited Aldous Huxley over, among many others.
Are you familiar with Tintin? Auguste Piccard, another genius professor, was inspiration for the character, resided in De Haan during Easter holidays. Perhaps a lesser known royalty, empress Zita, vacationed in Wenduine, De Haan, during her stay in Belgium. Until, yes, Nazi Germany invaded Belgium. Official website link: https://www.visitwestvlaanderen.be/en/de-haan-heritage-walking-route
Waterside path
My registered hiking details (plus extra photos): https://loc.wiki/t/232080650?wa=sc
This path translates unsurprisingly as waterside path. From Bredene dunes you reach the port of Ostend. Lange Nelle (Long Nellie) is closed for public but a landmark for the city of Ostend. Another piece of history is Fort Napoleon, dating back to a time when the region was under French rule and had to be defended from the English. You walk next to a flushing basin but – apparently – never used for that reason. Nowadays it is a recreational area with many ornithologists and wildlife spotters.
Bredene is nationally known for its nude beach and the coastal tram has a stop called “campings”. Worth noting best way to travel at Belgian’s coast is the coastal tram.
Yser Estuary trail
My registered hiking details (plus extra photos): https://loc.wiki/t/231913427?wa=sc
Perhaps the most deceptive name for a hike as you barely see the Yser. I hiked this trail in the final days of the first storm of the season which resulted in a few amazing photos.
The trail leads past a couple of ornithologists nests as I call them, I guess the English name is viewing screen over the estuary. The trail rounds a military terrain. As I was staying nearby this trail I did hear some of their “exercises”. Quite unusual to hear gunshots. The trail is balanced: beach, dyke, coastal town.
My personal opinion
During my visit I was – as a native Dutch speaker – switching my language from Germanic (greeting in Dutch or German is quite similar) to French according to the region. The upper region (especially Knokke, not Heist though) and the southern part (Westhoek or from Nieuwpoort to the French border) I adapted to French. All the rest was Germanic. English is also a Germanic language but “hi” and variants are not done. I have done several sort of social experiments on greeting. Cultural differences have surprised me. In our wee Belgium and neighboring countries. If your only language is English, you will generate more friendly feedback from a simple “good morning/day”, literally comprehensible for many Germanic languages. Bear in mind I am an introvert (ASD) so I will rarely initiate a conversation but a greeting, gesture, nod or smile is the least you can do, no? To acknowledge another individual and a show of respect. It changes when you pass a group of people, then I usually just nod.
Oh well, plenty of info to be found online: https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk
And finally some scenic photos in gallery:
Celtic Belgae 
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