Knokke - what to see?

[Comet]

What is there to see in Knokke (also Heist and Duinbergen) apart from Zwin nature reserve?

I sent for the tourist information package and it just seemed to feature places to stay and places to eat but no mention of what to see (apart from Zwin).

We plan to go on the tram as we can get a day ticket and get on and off along the route rather than travelling there by train.

Is the beach nice?

It is close to Zeebrugge so is it good for seeing those huge container boats coming and going? I would love to get some video of one sailing instead of just being loaded up like I only ever see in Zeebrugge (never seen one sailing).

[jan_olieslagers]

Above-average quantities of Ferrari-Armani-Lamborghini and the like.
If you're lucky you could even get a sight of some of our best-reputed citizens:
http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/regio ... vergunning
And as a die-hard aviation enthusiast you could locate the last remains of Knokke-Zoute aerodrome, some crumbling concrete serving a karting track.

[regi]

Above-average quantities of Ferrari-Armani-Lamborghini and the like.
If you're lucky you could even get a sight of some of our best-reputed citizens:
http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/regio ... vergunning
And as a die-hard aviation enthusiast you could locate the last remains of Knokke-Zoute aerodrome, some crumbling concrete serving a karting track.

I didn't know about that detail, Jan. It brings back some childhood memories. I do remember that the karting track looked a bit strange, not so attractive. Now I understand it, it is a former aerodrome.
( similar to Maldegem industrial estate also based on a former German airbase. Still one bunker visible )
The beach at Duinbergen ( left side of Knokke ) : at low tide the water is very far away, sometimes 15 minutes walking. Similar situation at the other side of the sea port of Zeebrugge, where at the beach of Zeebrugge , the waterline is very far away.
You can see the windmills on the dam stretching in the water. But I think you cannot see the windmills placed in the sea, too far away.
There are very few things to visit at Knokke itself because before it was a very poor fishermen village without historical backgrounds. And it was quickly developed into a tourist resort between the 2 world wars. A good book in Dutch is about the Kavjaks. It shows the backside of seaside living communities which are thrown into an era of big spending tourists.
Similar with Pattaya in Thailand.
What very few tourists realize is that the local inland community of Knokke is quite poor. Many of them work at the harbour, do something in black in tourism and just hang on. Same situation at Bredene, De Haan etcetera.
All around Knokke, you will find all kind of activities, historical places to visit, let's say 15 minutes by car. Damme ( and the tower ) , Bruges, Oostkerke-Damme http://www.damme-online.com/nl/deelgeme ... tkerke.htm
And just accros the Dutch border you find historical Sluis, Retranchement, Breskens, Aardenburg etcetera.
Enjoy your trip.

[Comet]

Thanks for the replies.

I like the sound of the beaches with the water so far away, that doesn't happen here which makes our beaches seem small. I also like the idea of a trip over the border, we did it a couple of years ago from De Panne when we caught the bus to Dunkerque, I'd like to see the Dutch coast as well.

We don't drive so we must go everywhere by tram, train or bus.

Are the windmills the ones you see near Zeebrugge? We went out on a boat there a few years back and saw some but it was a bit misty so I didn't get a good photo then.

[regi]

Thanks for the replies.

I like the sound of the beaches with the water so far away, that doesn't happen here which makes our beaches seem small. I also like the idea of a trip over the border, we did it a couple of years ago from De Panne when we caught the bus to Dunkerque, I'd like to see the Dutch coast as well.

We don't drive so we must go everywhere by tram, train or bus.

Are the windmills the ones you see near Zeebrugge? We went out on a boat there a few years back and saw some but it was a bit misty so I didn't get a good photo then.

Yep, it are those windmills at Zeebrugge harbour. In fact it was the first Belgian wind farm. The turbines have been replaced with a more modern design already.