Veurne and Beauvoorde circular loop in the Flemish region

Start at GroteMarkt (Veurne’s Grand Place)

(S/E) With your back to the Town Hall, cross the Grand Place (heading south-west) and take the small street on your right, then immediately turn left onto Zuidstraat.

(1) At the roundabout, carry on straight ahead, veering slightly to the left, still on Zuidstraat. Continue to the bridge and cross it. Immediately take the quay on your right and follow a wide canal for 500 metres.

(2) At the junction, turn left and follow the Calonnegracht alongside a narrower canal.

(3) Once you’ve passed under the motorway, turn left and you’ll come to a small chapel.

(4) Then veer to the right. Take care as you cycle along Bulskampstraat and on the verge. At the Y-junction, continue to the left towards the village of Bulskamp. Enter the village. At the corner by the cemetery, carry on straight ahead along Bulskamstraat and cycle past the church.

(5) Just before you leave the village, keep right towards Beauvoord (take care here – do not go straight on into Presendestraat – signposted cycle route). Leave Bulskamps.

(6) Back at the water’s edge, cross the bridge on your right. Pass the house and take the path on your left.

(7) At a T-junction, turn left and cross the bridge. At the Y-junction, turn left onto Kwadestraat. Continue along this road to Beauvoorde, taking great care as there is no pavement. Enter Beauvoorde.

(8) Turn into the first street on the left, Wulveringemstraat, and head towards the castle.

(9) Pass the castle and, after about a hundred metres, take the path on the left.

(10) At the corner of a plot of land, turn right. At the end of the path, turn left and you’ll reach a Bed&Bike.

(11) Continue along the path (north-north-west).

(12) At the junction, after a house with horse-head grilles, turn right (do not enter Bulskamp). Pass a viewpoint and you’ll reach a chapel.

(13) Carry on in the same direction along Presendestraat. Further on, the road curves to the right. Pass another chapel and you’ll come out onto the N8.

(14) Cross this busy road with care. Take the road directly opposite (Landbouwerstraat). At the next junction, turn left. At a T-junction, turn left.

(15) At the T-junction, turn right (Steengrachtwest). At the Y-junction, continue right onto Steengrachtwest.

(16) Before the bridge, take the cycle path on your left. Follow this path along the canal to Veurne.

(17) At the end of the cycle path, take the bridge on your left, then turn right and follow the canal.

(18) Take the first street on the left, Oostraat, to reach the town centre and the GroteMarkt (S/E).

For those wishing to stay overnight, there are several hotels in Veurnes and Beauvoorde, and a Bed & Bike called ‘Hof ter daele’ in Bulskamp.

As for dining, there are plenty of restaurants in Veurnes and Beauvoorde. In Beauvoorde, it’s advisable to book as they’re often fully booked. There are also two cafés in Bulskamp and a small bar in the castle grounds, where it’s very pleasant to have a drink when the weather is fine.
There are plenty of spots with benches along the route, ideal for a picnic.

This walk can also be done by bike, as the entire route is tarmac-surfaced. You’ll come across plenty of cyclists along the way.

Starting point – On GroteMarkt square: you can admire the historic monuments dating from the 17th century, and at number 29 you’ll find ‘The Libre Patrie Experience Centre’, which traces the town’s history during the 1914–1918 war.

1 – ‘Le Kaashoeve’: a small grocery shop where you’ll find local specialities (cheeses, Potjesvlees, beers).

2 – One of the first small chapels you’ll come across on this walk.

3 – Bulskamp Church with its particularly flower-filled cemetery.

4 – Beauvoorde Church with its rather unusual entrance, though this is hardly surprising given that an artist’s studio is located right next door.

5 - Monique Mol’s studio

6 - Beauvoorde Castle

7 - Bed & Bike – Hof ter daele

8 - On the left, a lovely view of Bulskamp and its church

9 - Small chapel – Oratory

And above all, don’t leave this town without trying the Flemish specialities! Veurne-Ambacht ham, Potjesvlees, sausages, babeluttes, almond cake, meringue cake, beers and, for the more adventurous, a glass of jenever.