This Belgian coastal town has a 30-kilometer cycling network, comic book murals, and a yearly beachfront beer festival. The 19th-century church spire and water tower mark its center.
Middelkerke, a coastal municipality in West Flanders, Belgium, sits along the North Sea with several kilometers of beaches. You can cycle through 30 kilometers of paths, swim at Epernayplein Beach, or walk past comic book murals like the Lucky Luke illustration at De Branding centre. The 19th-century Sint-Willibrordus Church with its stone spire and the cylindrical water tower on Louis Logierlaan mark the town center, while the annual Beer by the Sea festival transforms the promenade into Belgium's longest outdoor drinking spot.
Beach Activities and Seasonal Events
The North Sea beach stretches along Middelkerke's coast, with lifeguard-monitored swimming zones from June through September. You can rent beach chairs, umbrellas, and windbreakers from kiosks near Epernayplein. Each summer between July and September, sand sculptors create fantasy scenes and characters on the beach, with new themes each year.
Cycling Routes and Nature
You can explore the cycling paths between Middelkerke and Westende on both paved coastal routes and sand dune trails. Climb the Warande tower to see the entire network of paths, the coastline, and inland fields. Rent standard or electric bikes from shops in the town center - most operate daily from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Architecture and Street Art
The cylindrical Old Water Tower rises above Louis Logierlaan, while the Sint-Willibrordus Church's stone spire dominates the town center. Recent additions to the streets include large comic book murals: look for the Robbedoes character by Hanco Kolk at the Calidris in Westende and the Lucky Luke drawing by Morris at De Branding centre.
Local Food and Beer Festival
Try North Sea specialties like potjevleesch (meat preserved in jelly), garnaalkroketten (shrimp croquettes), and steamed mussels with fries at restaurants along the promenade. In June, Belgian breweries gather at Epernayplein for the Beer by the Sea festival. The three-day event includes food stalls and street performances along the beach.
Transportation and Day Trips
The Kusttram runs every 20 minutes in summer between coastal towns. Reach Ostend in 15 minutes, where trains connect to Brussels and other Belgian cities. Ostend Airport, 2 kilometers away, serves domestic routes, while international flights operate from Brussels Airport. Take the tram to the Atlantic Wall Raversyde to see preserved World War II bunkers, or continue to the medieval city of Bruges.
