Shrimp Fishing on Horseback at Oostduinkerke

Shrimp fishing on horseback is a centuries-old tradition that survives only in Oostduinkerke, a seaside village in the municipality of Koksijde on the West Flanders coast of the Flemish Region, Belgium. The shrimp fishers, known locally as paardenvissers, ride heavy Brabant draught horses into the breaking surf at low tide and drag a funnel-shaped net along the seabed, with chains stirring the shrimp into the mesh and baskets slung on the horses' flanks to hold the catch. The practice is inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage, and only a small number of active fishers remain. Visitors take part as spectators rather than participants, so there are no fitness or skill prerequisites and no age limits; the activity suits families and older travellers alike. The experience is usually combined with a visit to the Navigo National Fisheries Museum at Pastoor Schmitzstraat 5, which explains the history of Flemish coastal fishing and is a short walk from the beach. Demonstrations are held on selected days, mostly at weekends outside the winter months, and exact dates and times depend on the tide, so the museum or local tourist office calendar should be checked before travelling. Equipment is not supplied because none is needed, but a windproof jacket and shoes or boots that can get wet are advisable, as visitors stand on the damp sand close to the waterline. The fishers and their horses work in the shallow surf under the control of experienced handlers; spectators are asked to stay behind the line indicated by the organisers and to keep a safe distance from the animals. Rain, rough sea or very low temperatures can lead to a cancelled demonstration. The main season runs from spring through early autumn, and the annual Shrimp Festival in the village at the end of June is the busiest event of the year. Entry costs are modest, in the range of EUR 8-12 including the museum, and the beach walk is roughly one kilometre.