Car & Van Hire - Middelkerke

Located on Belgium's northern coast, Middelkerke is a seaside resort that benefits from kilometres of sandy beaches and a thriving local community. Middelkerke is ideal for families. The gently sloping shoreline means that children can paddle in safety while parents enjoy the sunshine. And the dune-based landscape here in northern Belgium has no shortage of beaches. The sand stretches over 70 km, from Dunkerque in the west all the way to the port of Zeebrugge and beyond.

Given the extent of the sand, you won't be surprised to find a range of beach-based attractions. A great sight for children and adults alike is Zandsculpturen Ostend, located just to the west of Middelkerke. Here they raise sandcastles to the next level! As well as fairytale castles, you'll find dinosaurs, ancient landscapes and more, all sculpted in sand.

For more active youngsters, Adventure Park is a great resource. Featuring four zip lines and five challenge courses, it'll keep the kids busy all day. But the seafront isn't just for children. Destinations like the Pata Pata Beach Bar offer daytime refreshments as well as nighttime vibrancy. For something a little more daring, try Casino Middelkerke. And everyone will enjoy X-Treme Bowling, which is handy if the weather doesn't turn out as well as you'd like.

Worth a special mention is Dronkenput. The name means, literally, 'drunken pit', but don't let that put you off. It's actually a wartime bunker that has partially sunk into the sand, meaning the whole building is at an angle. This disorienting experience combines historical significance with typical Belgian quirkiness.

If you're interested in competitive cycling, you're in luck when you visit Middelkerke. The Noordzeecross is a major cyclo-cross event held every February. It's a stage on the Superprestige championship and has been held every year since 1959.

Travelling a little further afield, you'll find Ostend, around 10 km away to the northeast. This historic city has much to explore, including the neo-Gothic Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Just inland, the capital of West Flanders, Bruges, is well worth a visit too. It's one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, with some fascinating architecture. The Church of Our Lady, for example, has the second-highest brick tower in the world. Bruges is also famed for its lace, so it's a great place to pick up some souvenirs.

The main through-route in Middelkerke is the N34, which runs along the coast from Adinkerke a few kilometres to the west to its termination in Knokke-Heist, just east of Zeebrugge. The N324 parallels the N34 just 500m to the southeast. If you've decided to go for car or van hire in Middelkerke, this is the route you'll take to the town centre. It's also the main road connecting Ostend-Bruges International Airport.

The N324 also leads to Ostend in the northeast and branches off towards Stene on the N318. To the west, it leads back to the N34. Whether you arrive on the N34 or N324, as you come into the centre of Middelkerke, you'll meet the main cross-route, Kerkstraat, which will take you directly to the seafront. This road also joins up with the N325 for travel further inland.

You'll find a number of car parks as well as on-street parking in Middelkerke. Parking is divided into 4 zones: red, green, pink and yellow. Red is the most restrictive, with a maximum parking time of 2 hours. It's also the most expensive, with charges per 15-minute period. At the other end of the range, yellow zone parking allows you to park for up to 7 days and costs a flat rate per day. Middelkerke also benefits from a number of 'Shop & Go' parking spaces, which allow you half an hour's free parking for quick shopping trips.

Aside from a couple of pedestrianised sections of the seafront road, the Zeedijk, driving is mostly unrestricted in Middelkerke. The town's main routes follow a grid structure, aligning with the coast, so it's easy to orient yourself. Roads in the Netherlands are well-maintained, and signage is generally clear.

The annual Noordzeecross cyclo-cross race takes place each February. It usually follows a route in the Sportpark, just to the southwest of central Middelkerke. Generally, only one public road is included in the route, the Westendlaan. However, because this is a popular event, you may find the town busier than usual, so traffic congestion can be expected.

With a car hire in Middelkerke, it's also easy to take longer trips. The N34 will take you to the nearby towns of Nieuwpoort, Koksijde and Ostend. And you can link up with the E40 to travel to Ghent and Brussels. In the other direction, the E40 joins up with the A16 in France, leading you to Calais, Boulogne and other French coastal resorts.