Passionate about the sea, but always down to earth: Heist is renowned for its rich fishing past, but the people here also have a very entrepreneurial mindset. It's a proud district, where the spirited locals believe in action, not words. Residents have bold visions, and Heist is undergoing a radical transition. Where life is celebrated with a passion, and not just during carnival. Where the past and present reach out to each other. In iconic architecture such as the Fishermen’s Chapel, the Heldentoren building and Vissershuldeplein. But also in lots of new facilities for locals and visitors alike. The young and the young at heart can have the time of their life in Heist.
itinerary
See the numbers on the map, at the bottom of this page
Start your exploration at HEY Knokke-Heist (5), the experience centre that welcomes you to the entire town. Find out all there is to know about Knokke-Heist in the past, present and future. Dive into the history of our seaside resort and discover the iconic figures that helped to shape the municipality. The pavilion shows you the bustling tourism of the resort like never before. It's an unforgettable experience for young and old alike! The tourist office is situated next to HEY. Do you have any questions about Knokke-Heist? If so, this is the place to ask them!
Finished discovering the past? Then cross Elizabetlaan in the present and walk towards the future of Heist. With a sea view and at the foot of the shopping streets and the Heldentorens (6), Heldenplein is the main square and the heart of Heist, a district currently undergoing rapid development. In the near future, this square, where the annual Kneistival music festival is held, will also be revamped. The Fishermen’s Chapel (4) in one of the side streets is a real eye-catcher. Over the centuries, families and friends have put up 27 lifebuoys and 35 lists, as witnesses to and in commemoration of people who were lost at sea. If you’re looking for the soul of Heist, look no further. Walk along Zeedijk to Vissershuldeplein (3), where the Vissersmonument (monument to the fishermen) faces the sea. Every August, the community meets here to attend a sea dedication ceremony. People lay flowers in honour of those who remained at sea.
On either side of the tracks of the coastal tram, you can shop to your heart’s content in the shopping area. The recentlyrenovated Graaf D’Ursellaan (10) is a pleasant shopping and walking boulevard. There are lots of nice shops, unique boutiques and other fun places just waiting to be discovered.
Head to Kursaalstraat and Knokkestraat (11), where you can shop for fresh produce at the local bakeries, butchers and fishmongers.
Further in, along Kursaalstraat, you'll find the picturesque building of the Fishing School (2). Generations of fishermen received their education at this academy, housed in a listed townhouse from the 1920s. The station (9), which serves as the backdrop for the weekly market (9) on Tuesdays, is just up the road. Next to it is the Ravelingen hall (9), which hosts all kinds of events and exhibitions. In the summer of 2022, you could view the work of the world-famous photographer Helmut Newton here. The building is a creation of B-architecten, who also designed the MoMu Fashion Museum in Antwerp and Muntpunt in Brussels.
Heist’s oldest building can be found next to this newcomer: Boerenhof (9). This is an old farm, from the first half of the 18th century. Nowadays it’s home to a restaurant, a fun playground for children, and a recentlyrenovated barn.
Maes- en Boereboomplein (8) – or ‘de Markt van Heist’ (Heist’s market square) as the locals call it – is just a stone’s throw away. The entire square is currently undergoing a makeover. Once an unremarkable car park, it is now being converted into a venue for events, a market, sports and games, or simply a square where you can sit down on a bench and watch the world go by. Hoost (8), a new landmark designed by the internationally renowned architecture firm Jakob + MacFarlan, is being built here. This apartment building stands out because of its expressive façade and the way in which the apartments are connected. The architects wanted the residents to instantly feel that they are on holiday, and are adding colour to the skyline of Knokke-Heist in the process.
Nature is never far away either, with the Groene Gordel Heist-West (Green Belt Heist West) on one side and Directeur-Generaal Willemspark (15), or 'het Bosje van Heist’ (Heist Wood) as the locals call it, on the other. It’s a great place to get lost among the trees and there are lots of fun play areas to explore, including a 10-metre high mega slide with a sea view. Don’t forget to take a closer look at Soccoristas (15), a stunning artwork that overlooks the sea from the dune ridge! The park is also home to the Chalet Suisse (15), where you can enjoy a game of mini golf, tennis or petanque. The new Landschapspark (16) has been built on the opposite side of the street: 12 hectares of parkland along Knokkestraat, which is a lovely place for a leisurely stroll.
From the beach, you can spot the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium’s second largest port and one of Europe's most important. In the early 20th century, two lighthouses were built to guide ships along the channel to Zeebrugge. One of them, the High Lighthouse of Heist (1) (Hoge Vuurtoren van Heist), was among the first full-concrete structures to be built in Belgium. It is decorated with Jugendstil elements and brick motifs. Although its light no longer guides mariners, its lovely location in the heart of Sashul (17) is a pretty sight. At night, the path to the lighthouse is lit. From here you can cross the Lichtenlijn (7), or Line of Lights, to the beach. This bridge connects the two nature areas, making them more accessible to walkers and cyclists.
Highlights
Bartholomeus, Babeluttes and beer
The heart of this old fishing community is the best place to taste all the goodness that the North Sea has to offer. Every restaurant always has fish on the menu. Heist is adamant about quality, as you can tell by the large number of excellent restaurants in the district. Top of the bill is Bartholomeus **, where you can enjoy a stellar culinary experience with a view of the sea. Caillou scored 15/20 and Bristol a 14.5/20 in the Gault&Millau guide. And there are other, simpler options: head to one of the local pubs tucked away in the centre of Heist, and mingle with the locals. Find a table, order a freshly-tapped Belgian beer, sit back and enjoy the good life! There are lots of pubs to choose from with evocative names such as ‘Den Oosthoek’, ‘Tussen Land & Zee’, ‘Café des Sports’ or ‘De Meerpaal’. Heist is also where babeluttes, a type of toffee, were invented and where Rosalie, or Moeder (Mother) Babelutte, made the one and only ‘boterbabbelaars’. Her mother taught her how to make them. The sweets were simply wrapped in baking paper and sold to rich English and French children who were holidaying on the coast. It's a sugary delight that every visitor to Knokke-Heist must try!
HEY Knokke-Heist
Knokke-Heist may be a young municipality, but it has a long history nonetheless. The fashionable seaside resort was originally a fishing village in the Heist district, but soon became a tourist attraction. In 1971, Knokke merged with Heist to create Knokke-Heist. Thanks to the concerted efforts of the late mayor Count Leopold Lippens, the town became the popular seaside resort that it is today. Discover Knokke-Heist past, present and future at HEY Knokke-Heist (5).
Looking for an educational indoor activity? Immerse yourself in the past of Knokke-Heist, find out how this seaside resort became what it is today and what the future has in store for it. At HEY, you learn more about our lovely municipality through interactive installations. It's fun for the whole family! From the central garden, you branch out to learn more about Knokke-Heist through various themes. Head to the Hall to see the 360-degree projection, the interactive map of the town, and the 11-metre long panoramic painting that illustrates the exceptional life in our seaside resort with many interesting stories. The Pavilion offers a unique perspective on the tourist highlights that have made Knokke-Heist such a popular destination over the years. Film, words, images and objects take you on a journey back in time! In the Atelier you can discover a new themed exhibition every season in which interesting aspects of Knokke-Heist's history are highlighted and magnified in an original way.
Shopping
Shopping streets
Graaf d'Ursellaan (10)
Kursaalstraat and De Bolle (11)
Discover all shops.
Food, drinks and accommodation
Discover top restaurants, all food addresses and bars in Heist.
Discover all accommodation options in Heist.
Nature
Parks & open spaces
Dir.-Gen. Willemspark (15)
Knokkestraat Walking Park (16)
Heist-West (17)
Sports centres
Chalet Suisse (15): Mini golf, tennis and petanque
Sportstadion De Taeye (18): Football, running track
Dir.Gen. Willemspark (15): Petanque courts
Sportstrand Heist (19)
Beachclub Anemos (20)
Public playgrounds
Playground at De Raan (15)
Dir.-Gen. Willemspark (15)
Heulebrug (Near Sloep) (21)
Krommedijk (22)
HEY (5)
Stadion De Taeye (18)
Beeodiversity
Noordhinder
