Hereby you'll find a short description of the Cobergherroute, the Veurne-Ambacht route, the Moerenroute and the Langelisroute. All these routes are very easy to follow, starting from De Panne. For a detailed description (only available in Dutch, French or German) of the routes, contact the Tourist Office at De Panne.
The Cobergherroute This route goes through the coastal polder landscape from the Westhoek, near the Belgian - French border. Huge farms, picturesque villages, old windmills and a network of ditches are part of the scenery. Starting from Adinkerke, the route goes to Hondschoote (France), which used to be a famous Flamous city in the middle-ages. Central on this route are the Moeren, a 3.000 acres open agricultural area in the form of a draughtboard. It used to be a large (inner) lake, which has been drained by Wenzel Cobergher in the 17th century. On the way back, the trip takes you through the French-Flemish "Houtland" and the dunes of Ghyvelde and Cabour.
The Moerenroute takes you through a genuine agricultural scenery. Two different types of landscapes will be crossed : the flat, open Moeren and the gently shelving, more secure "Houtland" from Veurne-Ambacht. The "Moeren" form the lowest part of the polder scenery in Flanders. They arose by the drainage of a middle-aged swamp. The region of "Houtland" lays higher and forms the "Plateau of Izenberghe". It shows more relief and contains several picturesque villages. Places of interest : Beauvoorde, Leisele, Houtem, the Moeren and the Outer Moeren, the windmills of St. Charles and St. Gustav
The Lange Lisroute takes the cyclist into the wide polder scenery between Nieuwpoort en Veurne. This landscape is known by its large openness (Het Blote) Large parts of this area were fled because of strategic reasons during World War I. Dozens of waterways still take care of the water outlet of this area. The cycling tour goes along the Yzer, the Hemmeleed, the Proostdijkvaart and the Langgeleed (also Lange Lis).
The Veurne-Ambachtroute lets the cyclist discover the charming scenery of "Het Blote" and the ancient architecture of the region of Veurne-Ambacht. Vast fields and meadows, crossed by waterways, diverse abbey-farms and small villages guarantee an attractive area and an interesting cycling-tour. Places of interest along the route : Koksijde, Veurne, Steenkerke, The Broeken, Alveringem & Zoutenaaie. On the way back we travel along the dunes from the Doornpanne and the Hoge Blekker.