Tourism and Recreation
Forms of recreation in the Westhoek dunes
The most important form of recreation in the Westhoek dunes is
walking. There is also a horse-riding track. Bicycling is not
allowed. Dogs are officially not allowed in the dune area, but
are tolerated when on a leash and kept on the paths. Walking is
only allowed on the walking paths.
Numbers
At this moment there are no clear numbers about how many tourists
visit the Westhoek state nature reserve. In 1989 25,000 individual
visitors were counted in the months July and August. At this moment
there is a proposal for a recreational research for the Westcoast
of Flanders. The goal of this plan is to make an integrated plan
in which the vulnerable dune areas in European context are safeguarded,
but where recreation is seen as important for quality of life
for local as well as regional residents.
Problems
Current problems relating to forms of recreation that are not
reconcilable with nature management in the Westhoek state nature
reserve are:
- The dunes are used for letting out the dog, often not on
a leash and off the paths. These dogs disturb the flora (by
digging and leaving dirt) and fauna (mammals and nesting birds)
and are a menace to nature-oriented visitors. There is also
the problem of duality: in some parts of the terrain dogs are
tolerated on a leash and the inhabitants of De Panne see it
as a customary law.
- The eastern part of the fore dune is used as a contact zone
for nudists. They create an informal net of paths and disturb
the flora and fauna (nesting birds).
- In the holiday season the area is used as a place to sport
and sunbathe and the vulnerable areas as dune ridges and dune
pans are especially popular. Many people do not realise what
the effect of their recreational behaviour on nature is.
- The current net of walking paths is often not respected.
Especially on the mobile dune complex, where it is difficult
to clearly define the walking paths and to channel the visitors.
- There are not enough personnel to guard the terrain permanently.
Another big issue for the Westhoek state nature reserve is that,
although it is a state nature reserve since 1957, the first management
plan dates from 1996. Therefore, the inhabitants of De Panne claim
many customary laws on the dune area.
Education and information for the
tourists is an important tool to overcome these problems. Other
problems concern the mobility of the
tourists.
The net of walking paths
The net of walking paths has been changed over the years, to safeguard
the more vulnerable areas and to guide and concentrate the visitors.
This had lead to the situation that the walking paths are concentrated
in the north-eastern part of the reserve, but all interesting
features of the dune area (see: Natural
values and importance of the Westhoek dunes) can be visited.
Every walking route has its own name and colour. The routes are
marked in the field by poles with a matching coloured top. At
the intersections between the different paths small maps are present,
which indicate the current where about. The most vulnerable areas
are protected from visitors by the placement of the walking paths.
Vulnerable areas that are located along the walking paths are
protected with wire, stretched at a low height between small poles
and sometimes fenced with wooden fences. It is interesting to
note that people have a tendency to respect the stretched wire
fence more than the larger, wooden fences.
Vulnerable breeding areas are marked with small signs, showing
that the area may not be entered because of the nesting birds.
Facilities
There are six walking paths in the reserve and the concrete dike
between the beach and the fore dunes is also used for walking.
The walking paths intersect each other so different routes can
be walked, from a route around the whole reserve to smaller routes
within the reserve.
The paths are relatively narrow (2-4 m) and winding to create
a more natural atmosphere for the walkers. The paths are not hardened
and pools can arise after a rain shower in the lower parts of
the paths. To make people aware of this, signs will be made in
the near future, stating to wear the right shoes. Because the
paths are not hardened it is sometimes more difficult for older
people to walk in the soft sand. Older people are a growing group
of recreationists and therefore there are plans to harden some
of the paths with wood chips. Wood chips can have a negative effect
on nature however, because it supplies additional nutrients to
the area.
Along the paths several waste paper baskets are placed. These
baskets are made from wood, which somehow seems to be less vulnerable
for vandalism than plastic baskets. Most people use the baskets,
and the baskets are regularly emptied.
In the near future there are plans for a watchtower on the highest
point of the area. This is to guide the visitors to the highest
point, instead of going themselves and creating illegal paths.
There are no entree fees and guided walks are also free, except
when reserved.
Entrances to the Westhoek state nature reserve
There are 5 entrances to the reserve from which the several walking
paths start. The main entrance is called ‘Vissersdorp’, which
can be reached by car, bus, bicycle and foot. There is an information
booth and an information board. The booth is manned during the
holiday season (between 10.00-12.00h and 13.00-17.00h) and visitors
can get information and ask questions. The information board contains
information about the Westhoek dunes, flora, fauna, but also the
rules and regulations. The information is given in four languages:
Dutch, French, German and English. There are some wooden benches,
waste paper baskets and a toilet. From the main entrance two walking
routes start. The other 4 entrances are placed on the west side
and east side of the reserve. On the west side there are two entrances,
both in the different corners of the reserve. Entrance ‘Perroquet’
is situated in the south-western corner and is mostly used by
visitors of the camping to go to the beach. From this entrance
one walking route and one horse riding track start, which are
separated from each other. The entrance in the north-western corner
is called ‘Strand’ (beach), where the walking path and the horse
riding track are connected with the beach. Between the two entrances
the north-south walking route connects with the east-west walking
route and this point can be seen as an entrance from the camping
Perroquet. Together with the entrance ‘Vissersdorp’ there are
two other entrances at the east side of the reserve. Entrance
‘Bunker’ is situated at the south-eastern corner and is near a
holiday village. One walking route starts here. The entrance can
be reached by car but there are no parking places. It is the closest
entrance to the train station of De Panne. Entrance ‘Calmeynbos’
is located between the two other entrances on this side of the
reserve and connects to the walking route between these entrances.
For the future there are plans to connect the paths of the Westhoek
state nature reserve with the other dune areas (Calmeynbos, Oosthoek,
Houtsaeger) around De Panne.
Marketing
The department of tourism of the city De Panne uses the Westhoek
state nature reserve, together with the other dune areas around
the De Panne for promotional purposes to attract more visitors
to De Panne. De Panne advertises as being a coastal town for family
vacations with many activities for children, in a green environment.
De Panne also attracts many people from the age of 50 years and
older and is famous for good gastronomy. Generally, the families
come to De Panne in the holiday season, the older people in the
off-season. On hot summer days many day visitors come to the beach.
The houses and apartments are build for families, having many
and large rooms. The outside of the houses is uniform and cars
are kept of the street by the availability of the parking beneath
the houses and apartments.
Result
Recreation is an important factor in the Westhoek state nature
reserve. The net of walking paths can safeguard the vulnerable
areas, although there are always people who do not stay on the
paths. The stretched wire fence seems to keep most people on the
paths. Because the management plan dates from 1996, ideas concerning
the facilities and entrances are currently being executed. In
the future the facilities (benches, waste paper baskets, information
boards) will be uniform. The entrances will be adapted to their
function (main entrance, passage to the beach, education path
etc).
