Discover Benelux | Introduction | Knokke
If the water is not your natural habitat, or if it is too chilly, then there are plenty of other sporting activities. Go for a stroll along the dikes, bring or rent own your bicycle, and enjoy the miles of well-laid bike paths waiting for you. Not that into sports? Install yourself comfortably on a sunny terrace and take in the views, or go for a delicious dinner at a star-restaurant to enjoy a delicious meal of mussels and fries. Knokke is Belgium’s ultimate shopping destination on the coast, and shopping is certainly a favourite pastime for its visitors (see page 25). At the Lippenslaan you are in for a long trip leading through the Dumortierlaan down to the end of the Kustlaan. Here you will find hundreds of more or less exclusive shops, over a distance of a few kilometres. You will be more than satisfied simply window shopping, but if you do wish to purchase something special, there are many flagship stores of world-renowned brands in Knokke. Or you can mingle with locals at a weekly market. Stroll along the stalls looking 20 | Issue 26 | February 2016
for a souvenir or locally grown produce and combine this with a snack or drink on a nearby terrace. Knokke has a textile market every Wednesday morning, and a food and flower market every Wednesday and Saturday morning. Passion for beauty is in Knokke’s genes: it is not by accident that you can find art collections of wide-ranging styles from Appel to Zadkine in over 60 galleries. This town has always had a special attraction for artists, architects, sculptors,
painters and archaeologists (see page 24). Knokke-Heist invests in art, and you will find it in the most unexpected places. Dune by Arne Quinze, for example, is an arch built over a car park entrance, or Hospitality, which is better known as Flanagan’s ‘Hare’ at the end of the Zeedijk. So whatever you do in this bustling seaside town, those who like to enjoy themselves in style will find a second home in Knokke.