De Panne with Kids | Best Things to Do | Where to Stay
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De Panne is a small town along the Belgian coast, famous for its sandy beaches, amusement park, and kid-friendly activities. It’s a perfect destination for families who want to enjoy a fun-filled vacation.
The town is vibrant and full of life, with numerous cafés and restaurants along the coast. With so many things to do and see, you won’t get bored in De Panne.
Discover the best things to do in De Panne with kids, where to stay, and practical tips to plan your visit.
What to Do in De Panne
One of the most popular activities in De Panne is riding a go-cart. It’s a fun experience that allows you to explore the town at your own pace.
Moreover, you can also have some delicious ice cream while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the beach.
What’s more, there are several jumping castles for kids, which are a great source of entertainment for them.
For those who love nature, De Panne has a small provincial domain where you can enjoy a peaceful walk amidst the lush greenery. Moreover, there is also a farm for kids where they can interact with animals and learn about farming.
Jo’s Tip
De Panne and De Haan are our most favorite parts of the Belgian coast!
Plopsa De Panne amusement park
There is also Plopsaland, the amusement park with an indoor amusement park, Maya, and an indoor water park, Plopsaqua, for the rainy days.
Read more: Plopsaqua
Arizona Beach Playground
A fenced, private playground on the beach has jumping castles and trampolines.
Arizona
Zeedijk 87-53, 8660 De Panne
Go-carts
You can find go-carts all along the Belgian seaside – and De Panne is no exception.
Arizona bicycle &go-cart rental
Zeedijk 37, 8660 De Panne
Provincial Domain Duinpanne
Duinpanne is a small provincial domain. There is a small, kids-friendly indoor expo on Sea Change (great as a short activity on a rainy day). It is also the starting point for some hikes.
There is a café and a small playground with sand.
Provinciaal bezoekerscentrum Duinpanne
Olmendreef 2, 8660 De Panne
Ferris wheel
There is a Ferris wheel a bit further away.
The monolithic sculptures of Jos de Gruyter and Harald Thys look toward France, England, and Belgium
Canadezenplein 2, 8660 De Panne
Playgrounds
There is a small playground with sand with a café nearby
Barkenlaan 63, 8660 De Panne
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There is also a small playground right next to a big, outdoor free parking
Zonnebloemweg 21, 8660 De Panne
Paepehof Farm for Kids
Paepehof is a farm for kids with a restaurant, trampolines, and a playground.
Hoeve Paepehof Kinderboerderij EEtkafee
Veldstraat, 8660 De Panne
Where to Eat with Kids
There are several restaurants along the coast and quite a few with play areas for kids. Besides, the restaurants offer various cuisines, including local and international dishes, to suit everyone’s tastes.
Paepehof is a farm for kids with a restaurant, trampolines, and a playground.
Hoeve Paepehof Kinderboerderij EEtkafee
Veldstraat, 8660 De Panne
Moeder Lambik has an outdoor play area. There is a dog park nearby, at Artiestenpad 189, 8660 De Panne, where your dog can run without a leash
Moeder Lambik
De Pannelaan 185, 8660 De Panne
Parkhotel has a restaurant with an outdoor playground
Parkhotel
Albert Dumontlaan 30, 8660 De Panne
Imperial restaurant has a kids corner with a mini kitchen that’s perfect to keep toddlers busy
Restaurant Imperial De Panne
Leopold I Esplanade 9, 8660 De Panne
Practical Stuff
- Get your spades and buckets with you! There is endless sand 🙂
- Dogs: There are different restrictions for dogs depending on the beach area. You can check here to see where your dog is allowed all year round on a leash and where they are prohibited during summer. There is a dog park at Artiestenpad 189, 8660 De Panne, where your dog can run without a leash.
Where to Park in De Panne
- You can find an outdoor free parking at Koningsplein here (230 places). There is a small playground next to it (see photos above).
- You can also find free outdoor parking here (180 places). This is a bit further than Koningsplein above, so first try Koningsplein and then this one.
- Park & Ride car park: 400 places, you pay EUR 9 and then all passengers of the car travel to De Panne and back for free.
- You can find more details about the zones in De Panne here and how many hours you are allowed to park at each zone.
More Along the Belgian Coast
Shrimp Fishermen on Horseback
Shrimp fishermen on horseback is a tradition for over 500 years that you can see only in Belgium nowadays! You can see them on selected dates in Oostduinkerke, about 10 minutes drive from De Panne.
Read more: Shrimp Fishing
Oostduinkerke
Even if you cannot catch the Shrimp Fishermen, Oostduinkerke is a nice place to spend the day with the long sandy beach, a heated outdoor swimming pool, a playground and ice cream!
Read more: Oostduinkerke
Dunkirk
Dunkirk is just across the border with France. It features a small zoo, an aquarium, an adventure park, and a dino park!
Bio-Topia Fort-Mardyck – Dunkerque (small zoo)
Rue des Droits de l’Homme, 59430 Dunkerque, France
The Camélus – Farm adventures and discoveries
211 Rte d’Uxem, 59254 Ghyvelde, France
Fort Aventures Dunkerque (adventure park with climbing courses, playground)
Rue de Nancy, 59640 Dunkerque, France
Aquarium de Dunkerque
45 Av. du Casino, 59240 Dunkerque, France
De Haan
Our favorite part of the Belgian coast is De Haan. The town is lovely, and there are so many activities for kids!
Read more: De Haan
Recommended
Domburg
If you are looking for something closer to nature, then the beaches in the Netherlands are a better option. We like Domburg with an endless, sandy beach with many beach pavillions and many activities for kids.
Read more: Domburg
