Cottage by the sea

Bray Dunes beach is a 'free beach'. This means, officially, that all activities are allowed here, at the same time and everywhere. So you see all kinds of things happening here all day. Cyclists riding up the beach from Dunkirk, horse riders at full gallop, kite surfers on the waves. And you also have 'sand yachters' here: the 'char a voile': a three-wheeled cart with a large sail on which the brave occupant can sometimes reach 100 km per hour. At the same time there is walking, on the waves you see suppers and canoeists, all year round. In addition, there are of course the walkers, swimmers and the men who fish for shrimps in the surf. In the summer months, a large activity center is open where you can rent equipment for all kinds of water sports activities and receive lessons. All this goes peacefully side by side, the beach is no less than 330 meters wide at low tide!

In the busy summer months this is a pleasant and friendly seaside resort, and due to the size of the beach it is never really crowded here. But outside the high season it is an oasis of peace and space. Similar to the Wadden Islands, but with more nature around you, and more space for long walks on the beach, through the dunes, or cycling trips in this flat part of Flemish France.

Because you live a few steps from the beach, you can take great walks here on your bare feet. There are various routes on the beach, from a few to tens of kilometers. 'Barefoot walking' goes via the beach to Dunkirk and back again (over 20 kilometers!), or you go to one of the two adjacent dune reserves (Westhoek and Les dunes Marchants) that you can enter from the beach. On this site, some great walks have been set out in and around Bray-Dunes. Website is called 'routeyou(dot)com/nl-fr/location/walk/47263030/hiking-in-bray-dunes-overview-of-all-hiking-routes'.

These restaurants are rated very positively by Michelin, without costing the top price (in the Michelin ranking, the BIB Gourmand is a recognition for top quality at a reasonable price).
Opening hours in this region are usually: lunch from 12 noon to 2 p.m., and dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations by telephone are a must (the former has a star and only twenty seats!).

Restaurant Haut Bonheur de la Table
18 Grand'Place, Cassel, 59670, France**
(1 star)
Modern kitchen
website

The MICHELIN Guide's advice:
'Situated between Steenvoorde and Saint-Omer in the heart of Flanders, Cassel is a beautifully kept little village built in brick and perched on the hill of the same name. With this small village comes a small restaurant: the tiny Haut Bonheur de la Table, housed in a beautiful 18C residence, has space for just twenty guests and is run by its owners who are passionate about fine cuisine. Here, Eugène Hobraiche carefully crafts contemporary cuisine that goes hand-in-hand with seasonal produce, using local fruit and vegetables in his dishes, as well as fish from the auction at Dunkirk. Grilled wild turbot with artichoke, samphire and coriander sauce, and grilled tuna with tomato water and green tomato sorbet are just two of the fish specialties on the menu.'

Restaurant La Coupole
Nieuwpoortlaan 9, De Panne, 8660, Belgium
Fish and seafood
website

The MICHELIN Guide's advice:
'La Coupole has been a fixture since 1989. The atmosphere is casual and trendy, dining here is pleasant. Lobster and fish are house specialties and are delivered by chef Bonnez's brother, a guarantee of quality. The varied wine list also deserves a mention.'

Restaurant Olive Tree
(BIB Gourmand)
Noordstraat 3, Veurne, 8630, Belgium
Traditional cuisine
website

The MICHELIN Guide's advice:
'The opulent silverware and enticing bottle collections immediately demonstrate the classic nature of Olive Tree. Chef Vandenberghe is passionate about old tableware and also sells it. But his greatest talent has always been to please his guests. The flavors are rich and the portions generous, just as tradition dictates. No frills, but product. With the impressive wine list, the patron proves his nose for quality.'

Restaurant Pere et Mere
(BIB Gourmand)
Grote Markt 43, Diksmuide, 8600, Belgium
website:
Classical cuisine, Traditional cuisine
website:

The MICHELIN Guide's advice:
'Papa Frans and Mama Ria have left their cozy bistro to the talented Jelle Devisch, although chef Frans is still happy to lend a hand in the kitchen. Here you can enjoy classics that are rarely found today, such as rabbit with plums and pig cheeks with Trappist beer. Tasty, generous… Grandmother's cooking at its best!'

Restaurant 'De Wasserette'
Marktstraat 38, Nieuwpoort, 8620, Belgium
Modern kitchen, Market kitchen
website:

The advice of the MICHELIN Guide
A look at the drying laundry on the ceiling of this trendy, cozy little shop is a reminder of its past. This bustling laundry has quickly become a permanent fixture in Nieuwpoort. Logically, judging by the tantalizing menu on which everything can be taken in small or large portions and the nice matching wines. Don't expect chichi, but à la minute preparations such as grilled brill with chicory, a light puree and a shrimp gravy that you can enjoy so easily.

Restaurant Au Filet de Sole
Walckierstraat 8, De Panne, 8660, Belgium
Market kitchen
website https://www.aufiletdesole.com/

The MICHELIN Guide's advice:
'Claude and Sylvie have chosen a side street of the sea wall in De Panne as the home base of their personal coastal restaurant. She provides attentive service, he likes to demonstrate that his cooking skills extend beyond classic sole preparations. Please note, the generosity of such traditional preparations is certainly one of the chef's strengths. But he continues to build on that, with interesting updates and a look at new developments.'

There are many flea markets in this area, each village has its own annual flea market. The residents are then all on the street with their own trade, supplemented by small-scale semi-professional brocante dealers. It is often a cozy village festival, with a small fair, and a stall where you can eat and drink. The markets are also popular with many locals with small pockets: there is a lot of second-hand children's clothes and toys, and practical utensils. Gone are the days when grandma's old stuff was sold here for next to nothing, although you can still get lucky. It is especially pleasant to walk around in a small village and have fun with the village entertainment among the locals. You will not encounter many foreign tourists. In the Dunkirk area, the flea markets are larger and with more professional traders. In Grande-Synthe (near Dunkirk) you also have a large Emaus which attracts a lot of crowds from the surrounding area and even from England as it is close to the Channel Tunnel to Calais. The prices are accordingly and it is really looking for really nice stuff here. For an agenda with all flea markets, you can visit the website of Brocabrac, Nord-Pas de Calais region. If you are looking for nicer things for still very reasonable prices, you better look for the many flea markets in the region. You can find it on the website called Brocantiq. (Google it yourself because I can't post links here!)

The longest tram line in Europe starts around the corner in De Panne: the Flemish coastal tram. During the summer months, this line travels the entire coast a large number of times: from De Panne to Knokke and back again. You get on in De Panne, and get off where you want. Ideal trip for a day out. Day pass costs 4 euros (child) or 7.50 euros (adult). More information (about travel times, tickets, etc.): visit the website dekusttram(punt.be).

Just across the border in Belgium, a fifteen-minute drive away, you will find the Flemish version of the Efteling in the village of Adinkerke: Plopsaland. It may sound like something for small children, but make no mistake: it is a very popular entertainment park for the whole family. Ideal for a day out if the weather is bad or you want something different than the beach.