The British newspaper The Guardian described the Belgian coast and the tram ride that runs along it as a “cinematic journey through the dune landscapes of Belgium,” with “seductive dune landscapes” and “a wonderfully eclectic journey.” Journalist Nicky Gardner praised the “pure cinema” of taking the Kusttram from Westhoek to Knokke-Heist, highlighting the changing landscapes and surreal elements like René Magritte’s murals in the Knokke Casino, piers that lead nowhere, and Belle Époque hotels with obstructed sea views. Gardner also recommended visiting Ostend for architecture lovers and De Haan for its history as a former fishing village and its popularity among artists.
”A cinematic journey through the dune landscapes of Belgium”, “seductive dune landscapes”, “a wonderfully eclectic journey”: these are some of the qualifiers that the British newspaper The Guardian used to describe the Belgian coast and especially the journey by tram on the line that runs along the coast.
Nicky Gardner, journalist for The Guardian, indeed extolled the “pure cinema” that constituted this activity, that of taking the “kusttram” from Westhoek, on the French border, to Knokke-Heist, a few not from the Netherlands. “Ride the rails […] it’s a visual feast of 153 minutes”, writes the journalist, who was ecstatic in front of landscapes which vary throughout the journey on the longest tram line in the world. “The whole route is an essay in surrealism, with René Magritte’s magnificent murals in the Knokke Casino, […] the piers that lead nowhere and the hotels of the Belle Époque that have a view of the sea obliterated by apartment buildings,” she continues in her article.
Among the coastal towns that have marked it, Nicky Gardner evokes Ostend, for lovers of architecture, and De Haan, for its history (it is a former poor fishing village) and what the town has become, a place favored for art.
In conclusion, taking a ride on the kusttram along the Belgian coast is not just a functional means of transportation, it is an experience in itself. As Nicky Gardner from The Guardian beautifully articulated, it is a visual feast of surreal landscapes, history, and architecture. The longest tram line in the world takes you on a journey from the French border to the outskirts of the Netherlands, offering stunning views of seductive dune landscapes and Belle Époque hotels, while passing by towns like Ostend and De Haan that have their own unique charm. So, if you plan on visiting Belgium, don’t miss out on this wonderfully eclectic journey that constitutes pure cinema.
