If you are looking for a relaxed beach holiday far away from bed castles and mass tourism, De Haan is the right place for you. The charming seaside resort on the Belgian North Sea coast, about 17 kilometres from Bruges , not only offers an almost endless coastline, but also captivates with its unique flair. This is mainly due to the buildings: you won’t find high-rise buildings here, instead decorative houses and villas in the chic style of the Belle Époque dominate the cityscape. Ideally, such a gem of a holiday resort should not be explored in fast forward, but over several days. When looking for a possible accommodation for a longer stay, you will come across numerous holiday home settlements in addition to some representative hotels. Accordingly, it is easy to find a holiday apartment in De Haan, from which you can explore the popular holiday resort, which once captivated Einstein, at your leisure and let it work its magic on you.
Activities and sights in De Haan
In addition to its architectural beauty, which is worth a trip in itself, De Haan of course has a few other sights and activities to offer for a stay that is as entertaining as it is unforgettable.
A visit to the North Sea beach
Immerse yourself in the flair of the Belle Époque
As mentioned at the beginning, De Haan is primarily known as a “seaside resort with that certain something” due to its imposing architecture. This circumstance goes back to the then Belgian King Leopold II, who laid the foundation for De Haan’s appearance in 1889 with his requirements for the builders. These requirements included not only that buildings could not exceed a certain height, but also that they could only be built free-standing with a surrounding garden and in the Anglo-Norman architectural style. If you stroll through the historic villa district “Concession”, you will embark on a kind of journey through time in the midst of long streets with Art Nouveau lanterns and past gleaming white houses with red roofs. With so much historical charm, it is not surprising that today’s town hall is located in a former grand hotel – a visit there is almost a must during a stay in De Haan. This also applies to the lovingly restored historic station from 1902, which still serves as a stop for the coastal tram today. As the longest tram line in the world , it is perfect for discovering the other places along the approximately 68-kilometre-long Flemish North Sea coast.
Family fun in the water park or amusement park
If you travel to De Haan with children and are looking for a special experience, you will not be disappointed. If, in contrast to the quiet idyll of the North Sea beach, things can get a little wilder in the water, a visit to Aquafan De Haan is almost mandatory. In addition to fast-paced water slides and a wild water ride, you will also find plenty of opportunities to relax here, which parents in particular should be happy about. The Bellewaerde amusement park is no less exciting. With a distance of around 65 kilometres, this is not in the immediate vicinity of De Haan, but with over 300 exotic animals and exciting roller coasters and other rides, the park is definitely worth the journey. But there are also interesting destinations in the immediate vicinity of De Haan, especially in the neighbouring municipality of Oostende. With a nature adventure park, a Japanese garden, black light mini golf and many other attractions, there is guaranteed to be something for every taste.
A unique mix for an unforgettable holiday
De Haan offers an interesting mix of classic architecture, beautiful sandy beach and sights for the whole family. This offer is complemented by the convenient location on the Flemish North Sea coast and the immediate proximity to the museum city of Bruges. A good reason not only to book the holiday apartment in De Haan for a few days, but to plan a longer stay – there is definitely enough to see and experience. And in addition to all the amazement and discovery, enough time should also be planned for relaxation.
