In the wake of record visitor numbers over the early May Bank Holiday, new measures are being applied at the Belgian seaside resort of Knokke-Heist to limit access to the town centre during heatwaves. The restrictions will see a perimeter put in place, preventing vehicle access to anyone other than locals, delivery workers, or emergency services.
Banning vehicular access is a radical measure in a country where many are still wedded to their private vehicles and where company cars have long been an expectation due to their fiscal advantages in a nation with some of the highest taxes in the world.
But authorities in Knokke decided enough was enough when, on 1 May 2025, a whopping 40,000 cars descended upon the northern town, which is synonymous in Belgium with bougie coastal tourism and summer houses. The Belgian coast hosted an estimated 180,000 daytrippers on that day alone, on top of the more than 125,000 holidaymakers already on the scene, figures that are comparable to the attendees at Tomorrowland Festival.
Overwhelmed and admitting it was “caught out” the Knokke municipality is now encouraging visitors who arrive by car to leave their vehicles in a car park on the outskirts, three kilometres from the famous beaches, which can still be reached, authorities point out, by foot.
“Three kilometres is easily doable on foot for the majority of people,” Knokke Mayor Cathy Coudyser insisted. “And what’s more, it’s vastly preferable to spending an hour going round and round in one’s car trying to find a parking spot.”
Based on the average summer season, every year officials anticipate at least six to seven days dubbed “tropical” by Belgian standards when temperatures exceed 28 degrees. “On days like those, over 70% of visitors arrive by car,” Coudyser said. The number of very hot days is expected to increase with the continuation of global warming.
@knokkeheist Beach season is here! Maar waar parkeer je nu het best in #knokkeheist ? Hier zijn enkele spots 🅿️✅ PS. Wist je dat de nieuwe parking aan de Natiënlaan volledig gratis is? 😍 #parkeren #parking #freeparking #voorjoupagina #fypbelgium #zomer #knokke #heist ♬ funky house – Close-Wu
Speaking to news outlet De Morgen, the Mayor also noted that the car park remained half empty on 1 May, a situation the town hopes to change with stricter road management as the summer season progresses. Observers are watching the trial keenly, noting that if it is deemed a success, the rules could be introduced in other resorts along the coast, such as Ostende, whose Mayor has said more parking would need to be created before doing so.
The heatwave planning also includes tighter enforcement of regulations on visitor behaviour and etiquette around the town. That will include a ban forbidding people from walking around without tops on commercial shopping streets.
