Dune forests and old villa districts in De Haan

Departure at the old tram station (1902) of De Haan (V). You can park at the Koninklijk Plein and the Driftweg. Cross the Driftweg behind the station and follow the right (market) towards KP 55. At the end you cross the street and you immediately go into the dune forests. You now walk about two kilometers between the Driftweg and the Koninklijke Baan on paved paths, which are initially in poor condition. Consistently follow the directions towards KP 55, partly concurring with the GR 5A. In the end, both arrive at the same point. After about a kilometer and a half you come to a T where you turn left and a little further on the Driftweg again. Cross it and turn right. A little further cross the Vosseslag and then turn right over the Driftweg. You get to FP 55.

Continue over the footbridge towards KP 56. From the bridge you can see on the left and right a vast golf course, built in 1903 by order of Leopold II. At the bottom of the bridge you will notice on your right a monument to the legendary beach beachcomber Mong De Vos. Continue to the beach. After KP 56 you turn right onto the beach, which you follow for two kilometers towards KP 54. At the first house of De Haan you go up the dike via stairs and follow it to the left. At the first street on your right you leave the junctions for a while to wander through the old villa district. Turn right into the street, cross the Koninklijke Baan and continue straight on the Dürerlaan with old villas. After a round point, go straight ahead into Shakespearelaan. At no. 5 you pass villa Savoyarde, where Einstein stayed for a few months in 1933. At the end of the street, turn left into Avenue Jean d'Ardenne. On the Leopoldlaan you come to the round park of the Concession district. A little to the left you see the grand town hall of De Haan, formerly the first luxury hotel. Cross the Leopoldlaan, turn right for a moment and you will come to a walking signpost (KP 53).

Turn left into the park and continue towards KP 51. Once out of the park, go straight ahead into Normandy. At a park with the (seated) statue of Einstein, take the right road. On the right you see a large villa, the former restaurant Coeur Volant, where Einstein often received famous guests. Turn right into Prinses Astridlaan and follow it until Waterkasteellaan, which you turn right. On the Nieuwe Rijksweg you cross the tram tracks via the protected pedestrian passage and enter the dunes on the other side. Still follow the signs towards KP 51 (which here again coincides with the GR 5A). You walk mostly on a paved path and walk further along the fence of a military domain. The path makes some zigzag movements: always follow GR and KP 51.

You come to a street road (Zwarte Kiezel) with parking lots. Cross it. You are now at FP 51. Continue through the dunes on a gravel path (GR and direction KP 1). As you approach the main track, take a narrower path to the right at a gate. Further on, at a Yjunction, we leave the GR which turns to the right. We turn left for a while where we come to KP 1 (with walking signpost). Turn left immediately, towards FP 2. A little further you come to the busy Nieuwe Rijksweg with tram stop Konijnenpad.

If you want, you can take the tram back to De Haan. You then have 11 kilometers on it. If you want to enjoy the sea and a beautiful view again, pass the tram stop and continue the road diagonally right through the dunes towards KP 2. After 500 meters, cross the Koninklijke Baan and continue on a sandy path through the dunes.

At the beach, at FP2, take the tile path to the right, until KP 50, just before the buildings. Take the steps on the right to the Spioenkop, a white building with a red roof from which you have a beautiful view to Ostend and far into the hinterland. Descend the dune to KP 49 and on to KP 48, where you can take the coastal tram back at the Wenduine Centrum stop.