Discover Westende: dunes, trails and culture

Westende brings together several themes that play different roles in planning a trip: natural areas with distinctive landscapes, hiking routes linked to the coast and dunes, a clearly defined town centre, and cultural history. When looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on nature, hiking or historical insights. The following place and topic profiles provide specific points of reference to help you decide.

Comparing dune landscapes

The Schuddebeurze nature reserve in Westende covers approximately 40 hectares. Schuddebeurze is one of three decalcified dune complexes on the Belgian coast. The Sint-Laureinsduinen form a nature area of just over 45 hectares between Westende-Bad and the Kwartier Lombardsijde military site. The Warandeduinen, in turn, are a narrow coastal nature area between Middelkerke and Westende.

In terms of size, the approximately 40 hectares of the Schuddebeurze nature reserve compare with the just over 45 hectares of the Sint-Laureinsduinen. The Warandeduinen, by contrast, are defined by their narrow shape and location between Middelkerke and Westende. The areas thus offer different points of reference if you are interested in Westende’s natural side.

Hiking routes and sea views

Hiking routes around Westende run along the beach, through the dunes and towards the IJzer. A new section of a walking trail runs along the edge of the Schuddebeurze nature area, between Schuddebeurzeweg and Langestraat. The hiking routes focus on landscapes and direction, while the named section is defined by the area’s edge and the two street names.

A route description available on 8 September 2026 mentions a panoramic 360-degree view of the surroundings and the sea from the Warandetoren. This all-round view offers a different emphasis from the trail descriptions: here, the view across the surroundings is what matters; there, it is the route through the landscapes and towards the IJzer.

Town centre and cultural history

Westende’s town centre is formed by Westendelaan, Henri Jasparlaan and Lombardsijdelaan. These three street names provide a specific point of reference for finding your way around the town centre, alongside the natural areas and the hiking routes described above.

Batterij Bamburg was built by the German occupying forces between 1942 and 1944 as part of the Atlantic Wall. Its construction period and military context place this historic site within the history of the occupation.

At the Villa Les Zéphyrs Museum, you can discover how a family spent its summer holidays on the Belgian coast in the 1930s. The villa also features a preserved early interior by Henry van de Velde: with a few adaptations, it was installed in the villa’s dining room and fumoir, and it remains the house’s centrepiece today. The family’s holiday life and a specific example of van de Velde’s interior design can thus be seen side by side.

Discover more destinations: Lombardsijde, Schore, Slijpe, Westende-Bad.

Back to the main travel overview: Middelkerke.