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De Haan |
is the most beautiful seaside resort on the 64-kilometer-long Belgian coast. Founded in the 19th century, it became a favorite vacation spot for the French-speaking aristocracy and wealthy Belgians. After the war, its popularity among tourists increased systematically. In 1889, the Belgian state leased fifty hectares of land to developers for the purpose of building a residential district on the dunes.
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The German planner Joseph Stübben was engaged for the project. De Haan owes its special character to the strict building regulations he proposed, distinguishing it from the rest of the towns on the Belgian coast. A requirement was introduced to limit the height of buildings to eleven meters or three floors, the possibility of building on 1/3 of the plot, and the creation of forests as windbreaks. Thanks to these restrictions, De Haan has retained a light development, without overwhelming skyscrapers.
Belle Époque in De Haan architecture
The wonderful atmosphere of De Haan is created primarily by the beautiful architecture in the Belle style. époque. An era whose main features are: decorativeness, stylization, asymmetry, which was manifested, among others, in the free arrangement of windows, as well as in the location of the gate, which was usually located centrally on the main axis of the building.
The buildings were given flowing, wavy lines, horseshoe or flattened arches were placed above the windows, balconies were semicircular, the whole was complemented by wavy cornices, free compositions, pastel colors, and a preference for floral motifs.
The buildings were given flowing, wavy lines, horseshoe or flattened arches were placed above the windows, balconies were semicircular, the whole was complemented by wavy cornices, free compositions, pastel colors, and a preference for floral motifs.
There are plenty of examples of buildings representing this style in the city. The most famous of them is the Grand Hotel Belle Vue, where Albert Einstein often dropped in for a cup of tea during his stay in Flanders after escaping Nazi Germany. In the style of belle époque was built also: a small tram station, which is one of the stops on the route along the Belgian coast, the town hall, many private villas and hotels.
Trammelant
Once a year, De Haan hosts Trammelant, the only belle festival on the Belgian coast. époque, focusing on the everyday life of the bourgeoisie and the inhabitants of the resort. It is a wonderful tribute to this extraordinary era, a journey into the past. Extras strolling around in beautiful costumes, amazing vintage cars, all surrounded by beautiful architecture typical of the belle époque. époque. For forty years, Trammelant has been attracting crowds of tourists who want to experience the atmosphere of this extraordinary era.
Seaside tram
De Haan's 11-kilometre coast stretches from Harendijke to Vosseslag, with beautiful sandy beaches giving way to dunes and forests. A great place not only for sunbathing, but also for walking. Unlike other Belgian resorts with high-rise buildings, in De Haan the maximum possible development cannot exceed five floors.
De Haan is connected to other resorts by the longest tram line in the world, stretching from Knokke-Heist, situated on the Dutch border, to the western border with France, to the town of De Panne. The journey along the entire 67-kilometer route takes 145 minutes. During this time, the tram stops at 68 stops. In De Haan the bus stop is located in a historic building, a beautiful example of the Belle Coeur architecture style. époque.