De Haan, Belgium

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De Haan (French: Le Coq, even Le Coq - sur -Mer ) is a municipality in the Belgian North Sea coast in the Belgian province of West Flanders. Of the 12,473 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2012) live about 5200 in the seaside resort of De Haan, about 4000 in Wenduine and the rest in the places Klemskerke, Vosseslag, Harendijke and Vlissegem.

Geographical location

De Haan is located directly on the North Sea coast. Centrally located in the village there is a stop on the coastal tram Kusttram that connects all locations along the Belgian North Sea coast together. The nearest major town is located 10 km east end. Bruges is located about 17 km away.

History

The borough Klemskerke is an old Belgian polder village, which has been proven mentioned in 1003 for the first time as " Clemeskirca ". Today the village of De Haan has its origin, however, only in 1889. Those days gave King Leopold II (Belgium ) for the development of a dune section a permit ( Concessie ). In Klemskerke the King had to create out of the profits of the exploitation of Congo a golf course.

A few years earlier, in 1886, the Kusttram was opened, which should prove to be an engine for development for the whole Belgian North Sea coast. In 1888 near the stopping point of the train, the first hotel was opened. The approval of the king included a number of requirements for future builders: How could a certain height are not exceeded, the houses had detached, that is to be surrounded by gardens and finally had to be adhered to the Anglo-Norman style for all villas. The latter point is since the 1960s are no longer determinative in all new buildings. Nevertheless, De Haan is distinguished by its open, heavily vegetated construction up from all the other resorts on the Belgian North Sea coast. 1899 began with the building of the Grand Hotel du Coq. In 1949 it was remodeled under the name " L' Esperance " to a holiday inn for Walloon children. The local government reform of 1977, the new large congregation bought the building and it worked at the town hall.

In 1910, the Aachen architect Josef Stubben, who had planned the Cologne Neustadt, among other things, was entrusted with the expansion of Concessie - area. Because of the originally granted approval of the core of De Haan carries between the dunes and the coastal tram line until today the name Concessie.

In 1977, the formerly independent communities Wenduine, Vlissegem and Klemskerke were merged to form new large village of De Haan.

Places in the community

The municipality of De Haan is divided into the following parts of Klemskerke, Vlissegem and Wenduine, where De Haan Centrum is located on the border between the two former (see chart No. IV ).

Other districts are Vosseslag and Harendijke.

Development

The buildings in the Concessie consists mainly of white villas and holiday homes and hotels in the style of the Belle Epoque, and in the country house style. There are in De Haan numerous summer cottages, the Zeepolder group ( Zeepolder I and II), the Holiday Village (Former campground today with polders and fishermen's houses ) and a holiday at Atlantis.

In the other districts of De Haan can be found to some extent older attractions, such as in Klemskerke the St. Clemens church dedicated Sint Clemens, a Gothic hall church dating from the 13th/14th. Century.

Sports and Leisure Facilities

In De Haan there are forested dunes (about 157 ha) with marked hiking trails. The community offers numerous sports facilities such as tennis courts, golf courses, riding stables and trails as well as a wave pool and indoor pool and mini golf courses. Seaside beach sailing and surfing are possible. There are also bike and pedal boat rentals. In addition, there are the places Ostend and Blankenberge close by, where among other things, a casino and a nightclub can be visited.

Others

The most famous resident of De Haan was Albert Einstein, who lived for six months in 1933 after his escape from Germany there. Also, James Ensor, one of the most famous Belgian painter, was often seen in the 1930s in De Haan. The Flemish artist Fernand Luickx had many years until 2012 his studio - gallery in the Delacenseriestraat in Wenduine.

Photo Gallery

Transactions on the beach promenade

Hall of De Haan, former Grand Hotel

Gracialaan in Concessie

Holiday home

Dunes in De Haan

Road in the Concessie

Parish church of Sint- Monica De Haan Center

View from Spioenkop on Wenduine

The " Spioenkop ", is a viewpoint on one of the highest dunes of the Belgian coast

Look at Vlissegem

Look at Klemskerke from the road to De Haan

Sint Clemens in Klemskerke

Hotel Belle Vue in De Haan

Sea Harrier and procession in Wenduine

Sea Harrier in Wenduine

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