Houthulst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A new wooden lookout tower by Robbrecht en Daem Architecten opened in Knokkebrug, Houthulst, under Horizon 2025, part of 24 planned towers. Supported by Clim@TouVert, it offers views of Westhoek nature and Fort De Knocke.
As VRT News reported, a new observation tower has opened in Knokkebrug, Houthulst, a municipality in the province of West Flanders, Belgium. The tower was built as part of the Horizon 2025 project. It was by several organisations. These include the municipality of Houthulst, Westtoer, the Province of West Flanders, and the Agency for Nature and Forests.
The project also received financial support from the European initiative ‘Clim@TouVert’. This initiative promotes sustainable tourism and climate adaptation. They mentioned that the result is a new structure in the landscape, which also adds to West Flanders’ plan to improve outdoor recreation with environmentally friendly development.
“This is a top recreational spot,”
Says Jurgen Vanlerberghe (Vooruit), deputy for tourism and chairman of Westtoer.
What does the new Houthulst tower offer visitors?
The officials say that the new lookout tower is close to the Blankaart walking paths and the Westhoek cycling routes. It’s a new place for people who hike and bike to stop and look around. People can see the marshes, meadows, and fields from the tower.
Günther Vanlerberghe, who works in tourism for the province, says these spots make trips better. They turn a simple walk or bike ride into something special. He mentioned that the tower gives visitors a place to enjoy nature.
According to the officials, the new lookout tower in Houthulst is both useful and beautiful. It’s designed to fit in perfectly with the area around it. The tower was created by Robbrecht en Daem Architecten. The tower is said to be very harmonious. It has a special wooden design. They mentioned that because of the materials used, the tower blends in with nature. It doesn’t spoil the view
“The view of the place where Fort De Knocke used to be really feels like you are looking at a map.”
Jurgen Vanlerberghe (Vooruit) from the province of West Flanders
According to Jurgen Vanlerberghe, the tower also connects visitors to the area’s history. This fort was built in the 1600s to protect against attacks. From the tower, people can see where the old walls of the fort used to be.
Deputy Günther Vanlerberghe said it’s like looking at a map. He mentioned that this tower is part of a larger plan called Horizon 2025. The plan aims to create many lookout points in West Flanders. By 2026, they hope to have 24 lookout points.
