48 hours in the Zwin Region, an oasis of calm by the North Sea

Zwin Nature Park is a place of lush fauna and flora. The park is connected to the North Sea and that sea flows in here twice each day. This beautiful piece of nature moves to the rhythm of the ebb and flow of the tides. With that, the landscape always seems to be changing here. We see that with our own eyes today; led by our experienced and passionate guide. The guide takes us across the vast Zwin plain and tells us numerous stories. About the origins of the mudflats and salt marshes; about how the tides make this ecosystem what it is. About the special salt-loving plants that live here, such as the samphire and glasswort, as well as the importance of the Zwin for biodiversity in Europe.

We have already learned about the flora; now we are also getting to know the fauna. The Zwin is known as an international airport for migratory birds. Every year, hundreds of thousands of storks, white herons and other migrants make stopovers here on their way to and from the south. We admire these feathered friends. We do this both from the panorama tower, which provides a 360° view of the whole park, and from one of the strategically placed viewing huts along our route. The different hands-on activities, such as an animated game of bird bingo, make the overall experience great fun for young and old alike.

It was good to get a breath of fresh air; it was instructive too! Meanwhile, we could use a diversion. We settle down at a table in The Shelter, the bistro at Zwin Nature Park. A tasty lunch restores our strength. After that, we move on. First, we visit the interactive expo in the Zwin. Inside, we are given a ‘boarding pass’ for this international airport for migratory birds. At the check-in, we are assigned a Zwin migratory bird. We fly alongside it through this adventurous expo.

Joy is sometimes found in unexpected places. We experience this first-hand here, thanks to the micro-adventures that you can experience. These mini-expeditions guarantee great experiences. We like to feel at one with nature, so we choose the barefoot path. We remove our walking shoes and move on. For two kilometres, we feel the ground between our toes changing: from sand to mud to marsh.

A special sensation immediately marks our farewell from Zwin Nature Park. After a brief freshen-up at the hotel, we discover an entirely different aspect of the Zwin Region. Knokke-Heist is our base for our two-day excursion. In this fashionable seaside resort, you can certainly find the necessary grandeur. On a stroll through the town, we saunter past boutiques and art galleries. We find a table in one of the many fine restaurants that the resort has to offer. The evening’s menu is as fitting as it is delectable: a plate of shrimp croquettes and a delicious pot of mussels. After all, we are beside the sea.

After our delightful meal, the sun slowly sinks into the North Sea. We use those last rays of sunshine for a short, cultural walk. Which leads us along the vast seawall and past open-air art. We admire Beach Castle and Ask the Animals, and They Will Teach You. Both are part of the Beaufort Sculpture Park. This is the name of the collection of more than 40 artworks, which form a permanent reminder of Beaufort. That is the art triennial that drops anchor on the North Sea coast every three years.

The works of art mark a splendid setting to a well-filled first day. Then our bed calls, in expectation of a new and busy day tomorrow in the Zwin Region.

We explore that piece of history on two wheels today, on the Lost Ports of the Zwin Route. In our base of Knokke, we hire a gleaming e-bike and we set off. Initially, we make our way back towards the Zwin Nature Park visitors’ centre. A comfortable cycle path takes us on our way. Whistling happily, we pedal through the greenery in total peace and quiet. In the town of Oostkerke, we make our first stop. There, we come across an unusual structure standing by the side of the road. This is one of the virtual reality viewers which are elevating the Lost Ports of the Zwin Route to a higher level. That VR shows 360° reconstructions of how those long-forgotten Zwin ports once coloured the medieval landscape. In this way, we step back a few centuries in time to how things used to be.

A few kilometres further on, we arrive at picturesque Damme. There we stop for a cup of coffee and a generous helping of heritage. This enchanting town bears witness to almost 1,000 years of history. After a comforting drink, we climb the 206 steps of the splendid Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. We are rewarded with an impressive view. We see the star-shaped contours of Damme, the surrounding nature areas, the arrow- straight Damse Vaart and the skyline of historic Bruges. We also get a glimpse of our next stop.

Soon we are back on the saddle, heading to Bruges. The route is crystal-clear; we just have to follow the water. Twenty minutes later, we cycle through the historic city gates of Bruges. We pedal on to the famous city centre, recognised in its entirety by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. We lock up the bike and stroll around for a while. We wander through winding cobbled streets, along picturesque canals, past the Belfry and over the photogenic Rozenhoedkaai (Rosary Quay). This, of course, is only the beginning. Bruges simply cannot be fully experienced in just one walk. We are already forging plans for a weekend in Bruges so that we can explore all that beauty. At the end of our walk, we find a nice terrace. We order a frothy glass of Brugse Zot beer (a local speciality!) and a delicious plate of Flemish beef stew. What a feast!

Now that we have regained our strength, it is time for the return leg of this Flanders’ Finest Cycle Route. Via the narrow Bruges streets, we walk back to our bike. There we head off again the same way we came: along the water. This leads us towards the Bruges polders, an ideal setting for a relaxing bike ride. On these safe and flat roads, there is hardly any traffic and we are continuously surrounded by greenery and so we make our way back to Damme. There, we pause at a bird-watching hut and try to spot some more feathered friends. Soon after, we come across another virtual reality point. For a while, this takes us back to a long-lost Zwin port.

What follows can only be described as a green paradise. Whistling happily, we cycle on through the nature. During our journey, we even take a small detour into another country. The Zwin Region is literally a cross-border area. It stretches across into the Netherlands. After a brief visit to our neighbours to the north, we set course back to where this tour began. A gravel path with stunning views returns us to Zwin Nature Park.

Our adventure is over. We return our trusty steel steeds to the hire company. Then we look for a place to unwind. We discuss our day over a delicious glass of Belgian beer. On the seawall in Knokke, there are many lovely terraces to choose from.