1 THE LIGHTHOUSE 4 ROOFTOP VIEWS 7 ON LAND, AT SEA AND IN THE AIR 10 GETTING STARTED WITH GOLF – ANNEX Lichttorenplein KM: 0 Elizabetlaan 2, Memlinc hotel, bar, restaurant & rooftop KM: 0,8 Dunes in front of the Zwin at the end of Zeedijk, Sioen Industries KM: 8,3 Hospitality by Barry Flanagan KM: 4,4 In collaboration with architecture firm E&L, artist Gert Verhoeven came up with a new look The Memlinc is an icon. The hotel is simply bursting with history, from a collapsed basement In the 1960s, husband-and-wife team Jacqueline and Jean-Jacques Sioen founded what for Lichttorenplein. Since then, it has generally been known as ‘the pink square’ for obvious during World War II to visits by global stars such as Tom Jones, Cliff Richards and Claude With his legs stretched out, the ‘Keuning van ’t Zwin’ or King of the Zwin appears to be flying would become one of the most impressive Flemish family businesses. The listed textile reasons. The concept included the nineteenth-century lighthouse that has been rebuilt and Brasseur. Today, this listed building continues to attract international business clients and offer over the dunes. This work by Barry Flanagan has been greeting passers-by since 1997. company Sioen Industries is a world leader in technical textiles. Amongst other things, they now serves as an information point for lost tourists. a taste of luxury. The 3Sixty bar – referring to the panoramic view – is a glorious spot at the top Further away are the remains of the old airport which opened in the summer of 1930 to produced bulletproof vests for the Irish army. The late Jacqueline subsequently transferred of the hotel. This rooftop bar offers wonderful views of the sea and attractive villa districts. get tourists to the coast more quickly. As well as birds, a keen eye may also spot Sergio her position as CEO to her daughter Michèle so she could study winemaking at Château La Herman’s restaurants in nearby Cadzand, just across the Dutch border. Marzelle in France. The origins of this successful family lie in the cosmopolitan resort of 2 THE SKY HAS NO LIMIT Knokke-Heist and they still live in the municipality, near Approach Golf. Zeedijk 749-752, One Carlton KM: 0,65 5 FIFTH AVENUE BY THE SEA! Kustlaan KM: 0,8 8 KNOKKE OUT Welcome to the ‘place m’as-tu vu’, the place to see and be seen. The ‘beau monde’ of our Bronlaan 113, Knokke-Out KM: 7,3 11 PUT 19 seaside resort used to parade past all the terraces here, giving Albertplein its famous Brussels has its Nieuwstraat. Antwerp has its Nationalestraat. And in Knokke-Heist, you Sparrendreef 74, last hole after the golf course KM: 8,6 nickname. Even the Kennedys had a close link with the area and would sometimes try to simply have to visit Kustlaan. Here, international names such as Louis Vuitton, Rolex and The façade of this impressive white villa already hints at the opulence and pleasure found stroll around incognito. On the left, a spacious apartment building will immediately catch Hermès rub shoulders with Belgian brands such as Rue Blanche or Essentiel. On this coastal behind its walls. This elegant restaurant has everything you need for a truly charming One of the cafés at the heart of the small village of Het Zoute bears the name ‘Put 19’. You your eye. Property developer Bart Versluys had a personal connection with the former Fifth Avenue, you might well find car enthusiasts cruising by in their Jaguars and Ferraris. No evening. The terrace is adjacent to the Royal Tennis Club, where you can see the local elite will find 19 holes or ‘putten’ here instead of the usual 18, as on most golf courses. After residence ‘The Carlton’, which disappeared from the Knokke-Heist skyline in 2016. The new wonder the largest number of Porsche Cayennes in the whole of Europe is found in Knokke- working up a sweat. The establishment is a popular location for corporate events or private all, this traditional pub is the last stop on the course. It remains a fixture on the coast and building became his pièce de résistance and adopted the name of its predecessor. The Heist. According to Belgian politician Leopold Lippens, strangely enough there are always parties. Anyone who moors here often ends up in ‘Knokke-Out’. welcomes all kinds of businesspeople on a daily basis, who call in to discuss jokes and Versluys Group was able to strike an extraordinary deal last year. One of the apartments at women behind the wheel. ‘Perhaps their husbands had something to make up for.’ Another deals over a pint. this prestigious ‘One Carlton’ was sold for €15 million. That’s €30,000 per square metre, not cool fact about Kustlaan? King Leopold III is said to have crawled beneath the half-open roller bad at all ;-) door of Neuhaus before dawn to tuck into his favourite chocolate undisturbed. 9 GETTING STARTED WITH GOLF Prins Filiplaan 1, Approach Golf KM: 8,3 12 ANGLICAN CHURCH Zoutelaan 77, St. George’s Anglican Church by architect Adolphe Pirenne KM: 9,4 3 FROM KEITH HARING TO JAN FABRE 6 BEACH, PLEASE The name says it all: Approach Golf is the perfect place to get a taste for this popular sport. 4 Albertplein 15, Guy Pieters Gallery KM: 0,7 Zeedijk 832, River Woods Beach Club KM: 1,8 Come here to try it out to your heart’s content before you start the hard work. You won’t find In the nineteenth century, the Belgian coast was already popular with the British. any experienced golfers here, and you have to carry your own clubs. For the real deal you’ll Cosmopolitan tourists crossed the pond by steamboat to Ostend, Bruges or Knokke-Heist. Guy Pieters is one of the leading lights of the West Flemish art world. This art dealer is well Choose the perfect setting to relax. On the beach, you will find a characteristic lounge bar need to take out your wallet, because at the Royal Zoute Golf Club you will end up paying a Before long there was a small English colony in our municipality, whose members lived in known both at home and abroad. From Knokke to Paris, the enthusiastic connoisseur has where young socialites and elegant businesspeople can enjoy an aperitif or a game of hefty green fee without a membership card and with a handicap above 35. villas and enjoyed playing golf. The Lippens family gave them a piece of land on which they helped various talented creatives to become great artists. After seeing big names such as pétanque. Sporty and relaxed, that’s what the River Woods Beach Club stands for. Among could build an Anglican Church. It is still standing today, despite the turbulent history of the 17 ROYAL KNOKKE FOOTBALL CLUB Jan Fabre, James Ensor, Christo, Andy Warhol, Panamarenko, Gilbert & George, Keith Haring other things, they live up to these values with their extensive range of water sports for the building: it was used by the Germans as a horse stable during World War I and was shelled a Smedenstraat 93, Royal Knokke FC KM: 16,5 and Niki de Saint Phalle step through the door of his gallery on Zeedijk, he opened this whole family: surfing, kayaking, kiting and sailing. By the way, did you know that you can few times during World War II. venue at Albertplein in 2014. His motto: ‘Embrace the unexpected, that’s what makes life drive from Knokke-Heist to Saint-Tropez without encountering a single traffic light? A fact It’s common knowledge that people from Knokke-Heist love sport. That healthy worth living.’ provided by Leopold Lippens himself. sea air gets everyone moving, in the municipality and beyond. For example, 13 LEBEAU COURALLY well-known millionaires such as Bill Gates and Roman Abramovich like to make Zoutelaan 175, Golfhotel Lebeau Courally KM: 11 the most of Knokke-Heist’s famous horse races. Then there is Royal Knokke FC, originally founded by the English mini-colony. As the growing interest in football A hotel surrounded by nature appeals to everyone, golf lovers or otherwise. Lebeau Courally was making the facilities burst at the seams, OYO Architects were appointed is located close to the Royal Golf Club and the Zwin. That makes it ideal for holding a to carry out a complete overhaul. More space has been created at the top of business meeting during a game of golf or on a walk through the reserve. With a typically 7 the stands for the canteen, the medical station and the staff areas. And the English rustic style, the hotel exudes an appealing elegance. Inside the focus is on high- whole venue has been painted in Knokke-Heist’s favourite colour: white! level comfort, including an extensive brunch. Flemish cuisine at its best, and you don’t even have to stay here to enjoy it! 18 DUINENWATER On the banks of the Duinenwater Lake, Duinenwater Knokke KM: 17,5 14 FORT SINT-POL Zoutelaan, Fort Sint-Pol KM: 11,5 Have you ever dreamed of a resort on the coast with all the amenities and recreation you could ever want, but without the annoying tourists? The Duinenwater promises to become Niki de Saint Phalle’s colourful, whimsical and friendly dragon is almost impossible to the most idyllic residential site in the region. The design remains true to Knokke-Heist describe in words. The artwork ‘Le Dragon’ can be admired in the garden of Fort Sint-Pol.