Nieuwmunster (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Nieuwmunster residents staged a playful protest on the beach in De Haan last night, drawing attention with creativity and community spirit.
They desire the return of their beach. Currently, Nieuwmunster is Belgium‘s sub-municipality of Zuienkerke.
However, Nieuwmunster was a separate municipality with its own beach prior to the municipal union in 1977. In order to allow De Haan and Wenduine to join, it had to give up that beach.
The people of Nieuwmunster want their beach back.
“It’s about 1.3 kilometers long, with dunes behind it,”
Says Ernest Houbaert of the Nieuwmunster village council.
“It’s practically the most beautiful stretch of beach on the Belgian coast. That stretch of beach is in the DNA of our small polder village, and we miss it terribly.”
The village council planted a symbolic flag on the beach Thursday evening.
“We drove to our beach with a tractor and cart, carrying a beach hut, accompanied by a whole bicycle caravan. There we met with the aldermen of Zuienkerke and De Haan. We want to start discussions about reclaiming our beach.”
It’s a playful action, although many Nieuwmunster residents are serious about it.
“But given the current geopolitical situation in the world, we want to keep the church at the center of attention here. For now, we’re just holding this action in preparation for our village festival in August.”
The event was named NWMNSTR-plage.
“As a crowning achievement, all Nieuwmunster residents will be made honorary citizens for life of the 11th coastal municipality, never officially recognized, but now finally celebrated.”
What legal issues affect beach ownership?
Beaches in Belgium are generally considered public property. However, parts of the beach areas are often given in concession to municipalities that may manage or regulate access and activities there.
The Belgian coastal zone operates under fragmented jurisdiction: Federal government controls marine areas, while the Flemish region handles coastal land matters, including environmental protection and nature conservation.
Municipalities have a role in managing beach access and use, but overarching federal or regional laws set standards and restrictions, especially concerning safety, environmental protection, and public access rights.
