Hotel near Hannecart Forest

Tucked behind the Ter Yde dunes in Oostduinkerke lies Hannecart Forest (Hannecartbos). It's a sheltered dune woodland edged with grassland and threaded by a stream, within walking or cycling distance of Nieuwpoort-Bad, or a few stops away on the coastal tram. Dune Hotel Nieuwpoort is your hotel near Hannecart Forest. You'll stay 150 metres from the sea, with the Simli Dunes right behind the hotel.

What is Hannecart Forest?

Hannecart Forest was planted in the 1920s by the Hannecart family as a hunting estate on former grassland and small dune fields. They opted for fast-growing tree species; biodiversity was never the aim. After the government acquired the site, a restoration programme followed: across six hectares, dying trees are being felled to bring back the original grassland. Shetland ponies graze in fenced-off sections and weirs were installed along the stream. Since June 2024, the municipality of Koksijde has managed the forest together with the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests. Today, you can spot storks nesting here in spring.

Walking in Hannecart Forest

Go walking in Hannecart Forest and you can expect shady paths along the tree-lined avenue and the stream. It's a nature reserve, so you stay on the marked paths. Fancy a longer loop? Combine the forest with the Ter Yde walking route, the signposted circuit that passes through Hannecart Forest. You'll find more about this route and where it starts on our page about a hotel near Ter Yde.

Entrances to Hannecart Forest

There are two entrances to Hannecart Forest, and since the Ter Yde walking route runs through the woods, you can pick up the main loop from either one:

• Via the information shelter on Loze Vissertjespad in Oostduinkerke, the current main gateway and the meeting point for guided walks with the forest ranger.
• From Noordzeedreef, where there's a small car park at the Westhoek estate.

Hannecart Forest in Oostduinkerke, part of Koksijde

Hannecart Forest lies in Oostduinkerke, a district of Koksijde, between the Karthuizer Dunes, Ter Yde, the Spelleplekke and Polderstraat. Together with Ter Yde and the Oostvoorduinen, it forms a single dune complex on Belgium's West Coast. From Nieuwpoort-Bad you can walk or cycle there, or take the coastal tram to the Oostduinkerke Duinpark stop. While in Koksijde and Oostduinkerke, pair the forest with a visit to the Duinenhuis, the municipality's nature education centre.

Staying near Hannecart Forest

Stay near Hannecart Forest with us in Nieuwpoort, with the seafront promenade 150 metres away and dune views from a room on the dune side. Each of our 88 rooms has a balcony or terrace, with rooms for two and for four. The breakfast buffet is included when you book through our website or at reception, and there's covered, secure parking for your car. After a day beneath the trees, reserve a table for dinner at Restaurant The Dunes. When will you come and discover Hannecart Forest? Choose your room and book your stay.

Frequently asked questions

Can I cycle into Hannecart Forest?

Yes. A mountain bike trail runs through the forest, so if you bring your own mountain bike you can ride straight in. No bike with you? Our reception will arrange one. If you bring your own bike or motorcycle, you can lock it away overnight in a private garage box in our car park (available to rent). Tips for rides along the numbered junction network are on our page about cycling and motorcycling around Nieuwpoort.

Can I head straight into the dunes from the hotel, without going to Oostduinkerke?

Absolutely. The Simli Dunes border our hotel, and every Sunday at 10.30 am a free two-hour walk with a nature guide sets off from reception. Sign up the day before, by 4 pm. Everything about that walk is on our page about walking in the Simli Dunes.

What's the difference between Hannecart Forest and Ter Yde?

They're neighbours within the same dune complex, but they feel very different. Ter Yde is open and sandy, with shifting dunes where the wind scours your face; Hannecart Forest is enclosed and green, wrapped in trees, grassland and water. On a blustery day, choose the forest; on a clear morning, the dunes. The Ter Yde walking route strings them together in a single day.