Mobility

How to reach the Westhoek state nature reserve and the city De Panne
De Panne and the Westhoek state nature reserve are located on the most western point of the Flemish coast. The border between Belgium and France forms the western border of the Westhoek state nature reserve.

The city De Panne can be reached well by car. The motorway E40 connects De Panne with Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp in Belgium and Dunkirk and Calais in France. Along the Belgian coast, the N34 connects all the coastal towns between De Panne and Oostende.

De Panne can also be reached by train (train station Adinkerke). There is a good connection with Ghent and from Ghent there are good connections with Brussels and Antwerp.

There is a coast tram along the Belgian coast, from De Panne to Knokke. This tram stops in all the coastal towns between De Panne and Knokke and there is a connection every twenty minutes. In De Panne the coast tram starts at a large parking (park & ride). The coast tram has several stops in De Panne, including one at the beach and one in the centre of the city.

The Westhoek state nature reserve can best be reached from De Panne by foot, bicycle or public transport (bus) through the main entrance Vissersdorp. There are two entrances along the southern margin of the reserve, along the road (Duinhoekstraat). These entrances can be reached by car but there are no parking places. These entrances are mostly used by visitors of two camping sites near these entrances. There is also a walking path through the dunes of Calmeynbos, which connects to the entrances Calmeynbos and Bunker. This walking path also passes along the visitor centre De Nachtegaal.

It is best to move through the city of De Panne by foot, bicycle or public transport (coast tram or bus). Beneath the houses and apartments there are parking facilities. There is also a park & ride just outside the city (starting point of the coast tram).

Problems
The city of De Panne is easy reached by car but parking problems can emerge on busy days. In the holiday season problems can emerge with people on the way to the beach causing traffic jams.

Therefore, it is promoted to park the car at the park & ride or beneath the houses or apartments and to use public transport to move through the city. Illegal parkers will be fined.