Approaching Kemskerke

Jacques Brel sang about "Le Plat Pays" and I drove through it today after I left Ostend. Klemskerke is typical, a beautiful little village in the Polders not far from De Haan/Le Cocq.  Its windmill from 1693 and its restored church (picture 2 if you look carefully) are protected monuments. "The flat land at its best, where quiet country roads invite walking and cycling. Klemskerke is a very old polder village. The first written document in which the town is mentioned dates back to 1003".

 http://www.dehaan.be/vertaling_engels/Laat_je_verrassen/F_6kernen_K.htm

Le Coq / De Haan (part 2 of 2)

Second part of my short tour of  the beautiful seaside town Le Coq / De Haan with in picture one the tram station, designed in 1902 by architect G Dhaeyer.

De Haan / Le Coq (1)

Le Coq / De Haan  (meaning rooster) is one of the prettiest towns at the Belgian coast with gorgeous villas all over the place, in the center,  near the board walk and dunes. 
What makes this town special, apart from the fact that Albert Einstein lived there in 1933 and is still honored today as its most famous visitor? Unlike in other Belgian beach towns, here the coastline has retained low-rise architecture and the Belle Epoque style houses are just absolutely stunning. The pink building shown is the town hall. 
More tomorrow, i a the picturesque tram station 
If you like to read more:
http://www.dehaan.be/vertaling_engels/Nieuws_historiek_cijfers/F_hist_dhc.htm
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Belgium/Provincie_West_Vlaanderen/De_Haan-356912/Off_the_Beaten_Path-De_Haan-TG-C-1.html#tip=983732#ixzz2CK21Jm9f