Oostduinkerke Coast in Belgium — Online Webcam
A corner of Belgium where time slows down
On the western edge of the Belgian coast, a few kilometers from the border with France, lies Oostduinkerke — a place that cannot be confused with any other North Sea resort. There are no bustling promenades of Ostend or the hustle of Bruges here. Instead, there is a wide strip of sand stretching to the horizon, dunes overgrown with feather grass, and an ancient tradition found nowhere else in the world. The live webcam broadcasts a view of Oostduinkerke beach in real time — an elevated terrace with a metal railing, white bungalows of the beach complex, red umbrellas, and the endless line of the sea on the horizon.
This small town is part of the Koksijde municipality in the province of West Flanders. People come here not for luxury hotels, but for something rarer — a sense of authenticity, unspoiled nature, and a living connection to the past.
Horseback shrimp fishing — a UNESCO heritage
Oostduinkerke is known worldwide for a unique tradition that has no parallels: horseback shrimp fishing. A fisherman on horseback rides into the surf, drags a special net behind him, and collects grey shrimp straight from the waves. This practice once existed in several coastal areas of the North Sea, but today it has survived exclusively here.
The tradition dates back at least 500 years — the first written records refer to the Middle Ages, when monks of the local abbey engaged in the trade. In 2013, horseback shrimp fishing was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At the time of inclusion, the tradition was maintained by twelve families whose craft received support from the Koksijde authorities and tourist organizations.
As of 2021, there were 17 active horseback fishermen remaining in Oostduinkerke. They take to the beach mainly in the warm season, and if you're lucky, the online camera will catch this rare spectacle — a massive Brabanson horse knee-deep in water, with a net stretched along its sides.
Dunes and nature reserves
The Oostduinkerke coast is not just a beach, but an extensive dune system that plays a vital role in the region's ecosystem. The De Doornpanne nature reserve is located between Koksijde and Oostduinkerke and covers about 240 hectares. It is part of the larger Ter Yde nature area, where you can observe a unique combination of dune landscapes, wet meadows, and sandy beaches.
The reserve has a visitor information center that explains how the dunes provide the region with drinking water — the sand ridges act as a natural aquifer, filtering and accumulating precipitation. A walk along the wooden boardwalks of Doornpanne allows you to see rare plant and bird species characteristic of this type of coastline.
The highest point of the Belgian coast is the De Hoge Blekker dune. From its summit, there is a panoramic view of the sea, beaches, and surroundings. It is a popular spot for those who want to take in the entire stretch of coast from Oostduinkerke to French Dunkirk.
Origin of the name and history
The name Oostduinkerke literally translates to "Eastern Dunkirk". Historically, the settlement shared a name with the Dunkirk on the territory of modern France. To distinguish the two settlements, the prefix "Oost-" — meaning "East" — was added to the Belgian town's name in the 13th century. French Dunkirk turned out to be further west, and the Belgian one became the eastern one.
Oostduinkerke remained a fishing village for a long time, its life governed by the sea and tides. The Ten Duinen Abbey, founded in the 12th century nearby, played an important role in the development of these lands — the monks were engaged in salt production, fishing, and pond farming. Today, ruins of the medieval monastery remain and can be visited in the surrounding area.
Beach and water activities
The sandy beach of Oostduinkerke is impressive in its scale: at low tide it stretches from 250 to 700 meters toward the sea. This wide strip extends more than 30 kilometers through De Panne all the way to the beach of French Dunkirk. Such dimensions make the coast an ideal place for an unusual sport — sand yachting, when a three-wheeled craft with a sail races along the hard wet sand at speeds comparable to those of a car.
Parasailing is also popular here — flying on a parachute behind a boat over the smooth surface of the North Sea. And for those who prefer a relaxing holiday, wooden boardwalks are laid along the beach, sun loungers are set up, and beach cafés operate.
What else to see in the area
In addition to the beach itself, Oostduinkerke and neighboring villages have several notable places. The Ten Duinen Abbey with its ruins and museum exhibition tells about the monastic life of Flanders in the 12th–16th centuries. In Sint-Idesbald, not far from the coast, the Paul Delvou Museum operates — dedicated to the surrealist artist whose works with nude figures and ancient ruins are recognized worldwide.
The De Hoge Blekker nature reserve attracts visitors not only with panoramic views but also with hiking trails of varying difficulty. And if you drive a little further east, you'll reach Ostend — the largest Belgian resort with art galleries, an aquarium, and a fortress on the seashore.
What the camera shows
The online camera is installed on the territory of the beach complex and broadcasts a view of the Oostduinkerke coast in real time. In the center of the frame is the beach area with white bungalow houses, red umbrellas, and an open café terrace with a bar counter. In the foreground, there is an elevated terrace with a metal railing and wooden benches where visitors relax.
The sandy beach stretches to the line of the North Sea, where the boundary of water and cloudy sky is visible on the horizon. Along the water's edge runs a wooden boardwalk. To the right of the frame are multi-story residential buildings along the promenade and dunes in the distance. People are walking on the beach, bicycles are parked. On the left, a flag flips on a flagpole. The camera conveys the atmosphere of the Belgian coast — calm, spacious, and alive.
