Koksijde / Sint-Idesbald
About this Place
Koksijde is a coastal municipality in West Flanders comprising Koksijde, Oostduinkerke, Sint-Idesbald and Wulpen. Koksijde and Sint-Idesbald run almost seamlessly into one another along the coast, linked by a long promenade beside the broad sandy beach and distinctive dunes.
The municipality’s principal connection with the Museum is the former Ten Duinen Abbey, a powerful medieval Cistercian house whose third abbot, Idesbald, gave his name to St Idesbald abbey beer. Brewing returned to one of the abbey’s former estates in 2020, when Brouwerij Sint-Idesbald opened at the historic Ten Bogaerde farm. The established St Idesbald beer range continues to be produced by Brouwerij Huyghe in Melle.
Brewery: Brouwerij St Idesbald
Visitor notes
Koksijde and neighbouring Sint-Idesbald make an easy combined visit. Their long seafront is lined by a broad sandy beach, with dunes adding interest to the otherwise relatively flat coastline. Look out for the striking bronze monument to working dogs on the beach, depicting one half in service equipment and the other as an ordinary dog. Dogs are warmly welcomed in the area, but access to the beach is restricted during the summer months, so check the current rules before travelling. When dogs are permitted on the beach, they must be kept on a lead.
Inland, the Abdijmuseum Ten Duinen explores the history and archaeology of the medieval abbey. The nearby Ten Bogaerde estate combines surviving abbey buildings, a small curated garden, contemporary art, a restaurant and Brouwerij Sint-Idesbald. The brewery occupies a former agricultural building and serves food and beer, but is better treated as a pleasant stop within the wider Ten Bogaerde site than as a destination brewery in its own right. It is outside the main coastal centre, so reaching it by car is considerably easier than incorporating it into a walk along the seafront.