At the time of its creation, De Panne was only a hamlet of the agricultural municipality of Adinkerke, where mostly fishermen lived in small fisherman's cottages. In the 19th century, under the influence of burgeoning tourism, De Panne grew into a real seaside resort with villas and commercial buildings in all kinds of styles.
In the spotlight: Dumontwijk
The picturesque Dumontwijk area is one of the most beautiful pieces of coastal architecture along the Belgian coast. Characteristic of the Dumontwijk are the many cottage style houses and the positioning of the houses with respect for the natural dunes. However, you will also find homes in other styles. The Dumontwijk, which has been protected as a townscape since 1995, is therefore illustrative of the evolution of coastal architecture in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Architectural styles
In De Panne, you will find a very varied range of architectural styles. Typical fisherman's cottages, rural cottages and modern houses make for a lively scene.
Important architects
At the end of the 19th century, the Dumontwijk was built under the supervision of architect Albert Dumont. The construction of the district was part of the first global urbanisation phase of our coastal community. Many architects followed and created a valuable architectural heritage together.
Find out who were important architects for our municipality here
