If you’re exploring Bredene, ’t Paelsteenveld simply has to be at the top of your list: it is a walking paradise between the polders and the dunes. The park has recently undergone a complete transformation to give it a much more open character. Another fantastic addition is the brand-new promenade between Astridbrug and the Staf Versluys Centre. Ambling is de rigueur here: you’ll notice your pace will start to slow almost automatically. The playgrounds have received an update too, so fun is guaranteed for toddlers and older kids.
A park bursting with life
Another reason to visit the park is that if you’re looking for the best that nature has to offer, you’re bound to find it here. Stroll through the dune landscape and feast your eyes: there’s bentgrass, roses and Yorkshire fog as far as you can see. On top of that, the park also hosts several rare coastal plants: subterranean trefoil, large-flowered evening primrose, lady’s bedstraw and purple broomrape can all be found here. These species are an absolute magnet for insects and butterflies: even the threatened brown argus can flutter to its heart’s content here, and breeding birds love nothing better than to settle among the abundant feeding grounds of this floral paradise.
Leisure and education
More active visitors will be in their element too: there’s a football field, a pétanque pitch and a fitness trail to test your strength. If all-out action is more your thing, you can get your kick on the karting track.
Park with a green heart
You’re also likely to leave ’t Paelsteenveld feeling inspired to lead a more sustainable life. Information panels offer environmentally friendly tips on how to install a green roof, for example.