A sandy beach in Knokke-Heist lined with white beach cabins under a clear blue sky. Ideal for summer relaxation. A sunny view of the Town Hall in Knokke-Heist, featuring a statue and vibrant flowerbeds in the foreground.
Belgium

Knokke-Heist: Belgium’s Poshest Promenade

Knokke-Heist Town Hall: A Neo-Gothic Landmark.
 Knokke-Heist, Belgium, August 2022

Knokke-Heist is the last stop before the Dutch border. By the roadside, I spot a charming windmill—almost as if a piece of Holland had already drifted across.

Beyond that, Knokke-Heist delivers exactly what you'd expect from a Belgian seaside resort: a grand casino right on the beach, thousands of neatly lined-up white beach huts waiting patiently for summer guests, and, of course, the typical Belgian promenade architecture.

A particular highlight—or at the very least, an eye-catcher—is the bright yellow public restroom, cleverly combined with a lifeguard station. A building with a clear sense of priorities: first, take care of nature’s call, then worry about water safety.

Knokke-Heist is stylish without being overly extravagant, touristy without feeling chaotic. A border town—somewhere between Belgium and Holland, between tradition and modernity, between a casino and a windmill.

Map of Knokke-Heist
A sandy beach in Knokke-Heist lined with white beach cabins under a clear blue sky. Ideal for summer relaxation.
Rows of white beach cabins on the sandy shores of Knokke-Heist, a familiar sight along the Belgian coast during the summer months.
A row of white beach cabins on the sandy shores of Knokke-Heist under a clear blue sky.
Rows of white beach cabins on the sandy shores of Knokke-Heist, a familiar sight along the Belgian coast during the summer months.
A replica lighthouse serving as tourist information center in Knokke-Heist, surrounded by modern buildings and a paved walkway.
The tourist information center in Knokke-Heist was built to resemble a lighthouse. Despite its historic look, the building was never used for navigation.
Entrance of Grand Casino Knokke-Heist with sandy beach in the foreground and a cyclist passing by. Sunny, vibrant atmosphere.
The Grand Casino Knokke, an Art Deco landmark, has been hosting entertainment and art events since the 1930s—just steps away from the sandy beach.
Modern beachfront apartments line the promenade in Knokke-Heist, featuring flowers and a clear blue sky.
A large ice cream cone sign on a beach hut in Knokke-Heist, with a menu displaying various ice cream options.
A wooden walkway leads to "Beach Number 1" in Knokke-Heist, flanked by beach umbrellas and palm trees under a clear blue sky.
A lifeguard station in Knokke-Heist, featuring a bright yellow design and a spiral staircase leading to an observation deck.
This bright yellow lifeguard station stands out against the sand and sea, a striking example of functional seaside architecture.
A row of yellow public restrooms in Knokke-Heist, featuring signage and payment instructions under a bright sky.
A modern metal frame on the sandy beach of Knokke-Heist, with calm sea and a distant ship on the horizon.
A windmill named Kalfmolen in Knokke-Heist, surrounded by green grass and steps leading to it.
The Kalfmolen, a historic wooden windmill in Knokke-Heist, has stood on this site since 1951, replacing an earlier mill that dated back to the 17th century.
A sunny view of the Town Hall in Knokke-Heist, featuring a statue and vibrant flowerbeds in the foreground.
The town hall of Knokke-Heist, an eye-catching neo-Gothic building, stands behind the statue of Mayor Alfred Verwee, who played a key role in the town’s development.