The Belgian coast is famous for its wide, flat beaches. At low tide the sea pulls back so far that you can walk hundreds of metres before reaching the water's edge. Families dig sandcastles, fly kites in the sea breeze, and hunt for crabs and shellfish in the rock pools.
One of the most popular resorts is Ostend, which Belgians call 'the Queen of the Belgian Coast'. It has a busy harbour, a fish market where boats unload their catch every morning, and a long promenade where people walk whatever the weather. The North Sea can be cold and windy even in summer, but Belgians love it anyway.
Running the entire 67 kilometres from De Panne in the west to Knokke-Heist in the east is the Kusttram, or Coastal Tram. It makes more than 70 stops along the way and is one of the longest tram lines in the world. Locals use it every day to travel from town to town along the shore.
The coast is also an important wildlife area. Seals bask on sandbanks at the mouth of the Westerschelde, and the dunes behind the beach are home to rare plants, rabbits, and many species of bird. Nature reserves protect stretches of dune where visitors can walk on wooden boardwalks to avoid disturbing the wildlife.