War walk: De Panne in the First World War
During the First World War, De Panne played an important role behind the Yser Front. This route takes you past places and stories that recall that period. Walk or cycle – the choice is yours.
Starting location
Starting location
This walk starts at the railway station in Adinkerke.
8660 De Panne
BE
On your route
On this route, you discover not only many locations that recall the First World War, but also several valuable natural areas. In Adinkerke, you pass the Cabourduinen, Garzebekeveld and De Zwarte Hoek nature reserve, among others. In De Panne, you walk or cycle past Calmeynbos and the Oosthoekduinen. Along the way, you also discover De Travert, a new car-free walking and cycling path between the French border and the railway station.
In the footsteps of King Albert I
During the First World War, De Panne lay in the only part of Belgium not occupied by German troops. While the Belgian government moved to Sainte-Adresse in France, the royal family stayed in De Panne. From the so-called royal villas on today’s Leopold I-Esplanade, King Albert I led the Belgian army and received international guests and heads of state. De Panne thus temporarily became the political heart of free Belgium.
Medical care also played an important role here. In 1914, the Red Cross hospital L’Océan was set up on the Zeedijk, where Queen Elisabeth regularly helped care for wounded soldiers. During the war, more than 36,000 wounded people were treated there. In Adinkerke, there was also the Cabour military hospital, led by Doctor Paul Derache.
Parking
It is best to park in the green long-stay parking zones.
Toilets
Need a toilet along the way? There are 4 toilets on your route:
- Station
- Seafront promenade near Pierre Bortierplein
- Zeedijk Centrum, near Zeelaan
- Town Hall
Public transport
Coming by tram? The De Panne Station stop is closest to the start of this walk.
100 years of the Groote Oorlog
Because of its location behind the Yser, De Panne played a unique and prominent role during the First World War. To mark the centenary of the Groote Oorlog, the municipality’s key events, war relics and memorial monuments were brought together in this walking and cycling route.