Westerpunt

Westerpunt is a six-metre-high concrete viewpoint structure standing at the western edge of De Panne, right where the Belgian coast meets France, next to the Westhoek nature reserve. It opened to the public on 4 May 2024 as part of Horizon 2025, a West Flanders provincial project aiming to create a series of distinctive lookout points along the coastline.

What does Westerpunt look like?

The structure was designed by Studio MOTO in collaboration with engineering firm MOUTON Engineering. Its shape is an elongated pentagon made up of stair segments joined at 108-degree angles, with landings that double as resting spots and viewing platforms. The way the stairway loops back on itself in an endless circuit has drawn comparisons to the work of M.C. Escher, giving the impression that people are climbing and descending at once, in the same direction.

The entire structure is cast in concrete, a material chosen so its texture and colour would echo the adjoining promenade while standing up to the harsh, salty sea climate of this stretch of coast.

Why visit?

Westerpunt sits on the slope of the local dike promenade, with stairs leading up from both sides of the structure. From its highest point, more than six metres above the beach, visitors get a panoramic view over the sand, the sea, and the dunes of the neighbouring Westhoek reserve. At high tide the base of the structure is partly submerged, adding to the sensation of hovering above the water.

The design is meant to express a symbolic link between sea and dunes, nature and coastline, and the local community itself — Westerpunt functions both as a lookout and as a stop along the wider walking and cycling route that runs along the western tip of the Belgian coast.

Where is it located?

Westerpunt stands at the western edge of De Panne, close to the French border, along the dike path heading toward the French coastline. Its proximity to the Westhoek nature reserve — one of the last large stretches of wild dune landscape on the Belgian coast — ties the architecture directly to the surrounding natural setting.

Frequently asked questions

When did Westerpunt open? The structure opened to visitors on 4 May 2024.

Who designed it? It was designed by Studio MOTO, with engineering support from MOUTON Engineering.

What material is it built from? Westerpunt is built entirely of concrete, chosen for its resistance to the salty, humid air of the North Sea coast.

Can visitors climb it? Yes, stairs lead up from both sides of the structure to viewing landings more than six metres above the beach.

What can you see from the top? A panoramic view of the beach, sea, dunes, and the neighbouring Westhoek nature reserve.