A hiking trail that connects the noble Knokke with its chic shops along Lippenslaan and villas in Zoute to a piece of nature through the still unspoiled Zwindunes and polder areas.

Text and photo Guido Elias 

This walk starts at the famous and cozy Oosthoekplein in the heart of Knokke-Zoute at junction 5 right in front of restaurant East Corner. From here, you take beautiful walking paths through the villa district of Zoute to reach Lippenslaan, the luxury shopping street of Knokke, among other spots, via the Koningsbos. You walk down to the dike of Zoute and then reach the Zwinnatuurpark along princely lanes and through the delightful Zwindunes. From here it is still about two kilometers to the starting point, Oosthoekplein. A walk that you can extend if desired (see at the junctions), but which especially offers a lot of variety! Those traveling by public transport can take bus 12 from Knokke Station to Oosthoek.

Pasar 2021/4 – Last route check 2021/2 

The route 

This hike follows the junctions (KP) of the Zwin walking network, which offers more than 50 km of walking fun in total. We start at KP 5 at Oosthoekplein (V), where a true rural atmosphere still prevails. From here, we head towards KP 2, briefly along Paulusstraat and then turn right along the winding Eikenlaan and through the Koningsbos. At the Y-junction, turn right towards KP 17, then at the Y-junction, turn left towards 20, still following Boslaan. After 700 m at KP 20, turn left through the Sparrendreef and soon turn right along the Caddiespad to KP 19. (Note: this Caddiespad was interrupted by construction during our exploration, normally now finished; if not, take right at 20 onto Sparrendreef, to X Zoutelaan, left there and straight to Lippenslaan, and then towards KP 23).

From KP 19, turn right via Helmweg towards KP 24 on Lippenslaan. Here, turn right and you will now follow Lippenslaan completely from 24, turning right at the end to KP 23 on the Zeedijk, just before the Tourism Office (1). Follow the Zeedijk of Zoute 1 km to KP 22. Here, turn right to KP 21 (200 m walking). Now turn left to KP 4 through Prins Filiplaan. At 4, bend left onto Astridlaan, towards 14. At the end of Astridlaan, turn right and immediately continue straight over the path through Groenpleinduinen. At 14, in the middle of the dunes, turn left and after 100 m you arrive at KP 13. Here, turn right and follow the wider path now straight ahead first to 9 (600 m) and at X continue straight to 8 (400 m). At the junction there, proceed straight to 7. Ignore the path to the left and continue over Zenopad to 6, following the curves to the right and it is about 500 m from 7 to 6. Close by is the entrance to the Zwin Nature Park (2). You can now choose to visit this nature area (the entrance is a bit further straight ahead, towards KP 1). Those who do not visit the Nature Park now walk straight from KP 6 through the Zwinpolders towards KP 16. After about 800 m of walking, turn right – still following towards 16 – to reach Oosthoekplein and KP 16 via the dike or along Leon Lippensdreef and Nieuwe-Hazegrasdijk. To the starting point, KP 5, it is straight ahead for another 100 meters.

Junctions: 5-2-17-20-19-24-23-22-21-4-14-13-9-8-7-6-16-5. (Longer variant: from 6 to 1-25-3 and endpoint 5, total 16.3 km)