E9 in Belgium

Route

The route is characterized by its diversity in nature. Highlights along the route are:

  • Dunes: Raversijde, Warandeduinen (Middelkerke), Lombardsijde, Doornpanne (Koksijde), Krakeelduinen, Hoge Blekker, Sahara (De Panne)
  • Nature reserves: Het Zwin (Knokke), De Baai van Heist, Sashul, Fonteintjes (Blankenberge), Calmeynbos, De Westhoek
  • Dunewoods: Blinkaertduinbos (Knokke), De Haan
  • Ports: Zeebrugge, Blankenberge, Oostende, Nieuwpoort
  • Exceptional architecture: De Haan
  • History: Fort Napoleon, Gaanderijen (Oostende), Provinciedomein Raversijde with musea and an archeological site, Het Westfront, royal monuments
  • Beaufort: a free and permanent open-air exhibition with artworks along the whole Belgian coast
Phto: Johan Van Malderen en Marleen Deprins
Photo: Johan Van Malderen en Marleen Deprins

Starting Point

Visitor Centre of Het Zwin (Knokke) – near the Dutch border

End Point

French border at De Panne

Which cities and towns does the E-path pass through?

Knokke-Heist, Zeebrugge, Blankenberge, De Haan, Bredene, Oostende, Middelkerke, Nieuwpoort, Koksijde, De Panne

Length

97 km

Photo: BartDeRuytter

Ground path of the E-path

The Streek-GR Kust from the start in Knokke-Heist till the French border in De Panne (without interruptions)

Responsible organization

Grote Routepaden

Publications

A topoguide of the Streek-GR Kust is foreseen for mid-2025. Until then, the topoguide of the GR 5A Wandelronde van Vlaanderen (between Wenduine and De Panne) can be followed (publisher = Grote Routepaden).

Maps

Detailed maps (1:25.000) can be found in the topoguide GR 5A and the topoguide Streek-GR Kust (available from mid 2025). An overview of the complete route can be found on the GR-overviewmap of Belgium (by Grote Routepaden). All available in the webshop of www.groteroutepaden.be

Marking system

Yellow-red stripes (straight ahead, turn right, turn left, wrong direction).

Crossing other E-paths

The E2 joins the E9 in Wenduine. They follow the same path till the end at the French border.

Photo: Cathy De Gusseme and Jan Thysen

Practical

Accommodation / Food / Refreshments / Resources

There is enough accommodation along the path (such as hotels, B&Bs, youth hostels, and campsites). There are many possibilities for refreshments and resources in every city or town the path is going through.

‘Welcome to my garden’ is a popular platform for those who want to put their tent in the backyard of a private host.

Travel

The ‘Kusttram’ is a coastal tram along the Belgian coastline and connects Knokke to De Panne, with stops on a very regular basis. There is a train station (with regular connections to other Belgian stations) in Knokke, Blankenberge, Oostende, Zeebrugge, and Adinkerke (De Panne).

Gear

There is no specific gear needed to walk the path.

Photo: Cathy De Gusseme and Jan Thysen

Links

www.groteroutepaden.be

www.welcometomygarden.be

www.delijn.be (public transport – busses and trams)

www.nmbs.be (public transport – trains)