Authorities in the West Flemish family seaside resort of Bredene have now decided more clearly to demarcate the popular local nudist beach. New signs displaying rules of conduct and pictograms have been put up, and posts with rope stretched between them mark the boundary with the adjacent nature reserve more clearly. Bredene city fathers say the measure has been taken in response to what is termed the ‘repeated misuse of the sand dunes’ behind the beach.
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Pictograms, rope and posts to deter misuse of sand dunes adjoining Bredene’s popular nudist beach
Colin Clapson
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A section of Bredene beach, at the water’s edge, is officially designated as a nudist beach. It is Belgium's sole officially recognised nudist beach. Stretching for 4 kilometres it offers privacy as it is a secluded setting bordered by a series of protected sand dunes and not a promenade.
This is a zone where full nudity is permitted. However, behind this area lies a series of sand dunes that form part of a nature reserve managed by the Nature and Forests Agency. According to Bredene Mayor Kelly Spillier, some visitors have been displaying inappropriate behaviour in this area, but no more concrete details are available. The local council wishes to put a stop to this.
‘Don’t tarnish the good name’
‘We don’t want the good name of the nudist beach to be tarnished by a few individuals who go too deep into the sand dunes,’ explains Spillier.
‘The rules of conduct are not new. But previously signs only marked the start and end of the nudist beach. Now we also explain the rules, using pictograms and text in several languages.’
Enforcement
‘From now on, we will also physically mark the boundary between the nudist beach and the nature reserve with posts and a rope. Anyone who steps over that rope is entering a zone where you are not allowed to go — not naked but not clothed either.’