Nestled at the northeastern part of Belgium, right beside the Dutch border, is the seaside resort of Knokke. An elegant coastal town, with very posh, elegant-dressed people, and full of skyscrapers that are trying to get some of the Belgian North Sea sun. A paradox in it.

Given that it’s right on the North Sea coast, Knokke offers an irresistible blend of sea, sand, and upscale charm. I’d just returned from sunny Cyprus and wasn’t ready to leave the summer vibe behind—so when the Assumption Day long weekend came around, it felt like the perfect chance to continue the holiday mood with a little getaway to Knokke.

Knokke started as a a vacation haven for the city folk of Brussels in the early 19th century, artists started to frequent the small hamlet to paint its vistas. You can spot the monument to the painter Alfred Verwee just in front of the City Hall or as Flemish say, Statdhuis.

The artists rented a small miller’s cottage and founded the Cercle des Artistes in 1880. Today, as you scroll down the coast and through the town centre, you can see many art galleries as a witness of the times.

We visited some of them, bought a popular WW2 poster with many interesting details. However, the fellow Flemish vendor was not able to analyse the poster for us. It was a bit awkward as I kept asking about certain details that had significance for both Belgium and Netherlands.

Knokke used to be known as the more upper class and chique seaside resort town on the Belgian coast (like the Saint-Tropez or Monaco). However, a lot of this is past glory. The influx of less wealthy day trippers, who come in by train and overwhelm the city’s beaches during summer, make Knokke’s seafront look like any other Belgian coastal town with a train station.

Mayor Count Leopold Lippens once even famously complained about the so-called ‘frigoboxtoeristen‘ – day trippers who bring their cooler box full of food and drinks, and loud music, and do not consume anything in seaside pubs or restaurants. Flemish way to resolve this: make a law to prevent people from coming to Knokke. Hence, we dressed accordingly, to make sure we fit in. We even started our day with two fine Taittingers.

Knokke is famous for rich people and their wild cars. This is also one of the reasons why you would come here and have a look into the local residents’ habits.

The other reason is, of course, the beach. It is the North Sea, so do not expect crystal clear waters. Saying to myself, as Croatia for me is the vertical scale of pure waters. 🙂 And of course, I just arrived from Cyprus.

Other thing that shocked me is that the sunbeds are facing the sun (which is in opposite side of the sky than in Mediterranean) and not the sea. Knokke tourists place their sunbeds in opposite direction, and I guess due to the wind, they fence themselves around. So you come to the beach or the beach club, but you do not see the sea. Flemish taste.

To be honest, beach clubs there are the best thing to do. But super expensive! I am not one of those tourists that shames the prices and puts them on social media to get attention, but I do have to say that price does not follow the quality. Nor the service. Especially if I have to get myself an expensive champagne, as there is no waiter to serve.

However, I put on the sunglasses (I took my Prada version out specifically for this occasion) 🙂 and stared into the blue. Or grey.

It was time to eat. I chose the famous Brasserie Rubens. I was aspiring towards the Flemish Nord sea cuisine. The line was huge, as the place is popular, but moving fast.

Notice the dress code! And nobody is wearing a hat/ cap when eating. This isn’t nouveau riches!

We were seated quickly, having our dishes. Somehow, they all looked and tasted the same. The four dishes blend into one. 🙂

Afternoon time was reserved for the Knokke Casino. I didn’t like it at all and spent the whole 20 minutes inside. I was asked a bunch of personal questions and found the experience awkward.

Instead, I decided to use the time as the sun was setting and treat myself with a little shopping. The stores here are just amazing and so chic-unique.