v2.webp){kind=logo}
- Hoge Blekker viewpoint — The highest dune in Flanders (about 33 m), a short climb that suddenly opens up broad views over the rippling dunes and the North Sea. Best for sunrise or late-afternoon light — you feel like you’ve escaped the coast without leaving it.
- Shifting dune ridges — Walk along serrated dune crests where wind-carved patterns and loose sand make the terrain change hour by hour. It’s a radically different hiking feel than a wooded trail: exposed, raw, and constantly moving under your feet.
- Tidal flats and birdlife — The reserve borders wide mudflats and shallow water channels that attract migratory waders and gulls; you’ll often spot oystercatchers, terns and, if you’re lucky, seals hauled out on sandbanks. Great for low-tide wildlife watching from relatively close.
- Dune
- Hoge Blekker viewpoint — The highest dune in Flanders (about 33 m), a short climb that suddenly opens up broad views over the rippling dunes and the North Sea. Best for sunrise or late-afternoon light — you feel like you’ve escaped the coast without leaving it.
- Shifting dune ridges — Walk along serrated dune crests where wind-carved patterns and loose sand make the terrain change hour by hour. It’s a radically different hiking feel than a wooded trail: exposed, raw, and constantly moving under your feet.
- Tidal flats and birdlife — The reserve borders wide mudflats and shallow water channels that attract migratory waders and gulls; you’ll often spot oystercatchers, terns and, if you’re lucky, seals hauled out on sandbanks. Great for low-tide wildlife watching from relatively close.
- Dune flora and orchid meadows — In spring and early summer the dunes light up with specialised plants — marram grass, heather and occasional dune orchids. It’s a nice counterpoint to the monochrome sand: small, stubborn pockets of colour and interesting insects.
- Bunkers and coastal heritage — Scattered concrete bunkers and wartime traces sit half-swallowed by sand, adding a stark, human-made counterpoint to the wild landscape. They’re easy to find from the paths and make for moody photos and a reminder that this peaceful place has a gritty past.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.
From IEPER Private 4-hour Tour of the Ypres Battlefield
In Flanders Fields and Passchendaele Half Day Morning Tour
From Ypres, The Christmas Truce to Passchendaele Ypres Based WW1 private tour
Ypres Battlefields and Passchendaele Museum Full Day Tour
Full Day Canadian WW1 Vimy and Somme Battlefield Tour from Ypres
e-Scavenger hunt Ypres: Explore the city at your own pace
From LIlle or Bruges, Christmas Truce to Passchendaele Ypres 1 day WW1 private
From Ypres 4hr Christmas Truce and Monster Mines of Messines PRIVATE Tour
Hidden Ypres: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
Best Backpacking
.jpg)
Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.