In what was a first in Flanders, the new mayor of the West Flemish coastal municipality of Koksijde swore the oath required for him to become mayor on Oostduinkerke Beach. The former MEP Sander Loones (Flemish nationalist) was accompanied by two shrimp fishers and their horses. Since 2013, Horse-Drawn Shrimp Fishing in Oostduinkerke has been on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The new mayor of the seaside municipality of Koksijde Sander Loones (photo) chose an unusual spot to take his oath of office on Tuesday morning.  Accompanied by two shrimp fishermen on horseback, the Flemish nationalist politician took his oath on the sandy beach at Oostduinkerke, a coastal village that is part of Koksijde.  A table on which he was to sign documents required for him to become mayor and the official flags were also brought onto the beach in what was an almost surreal spectacle. Normally, in Flanders a mayor swears their oath and signs the papers required for them to take office at the official residence of the Provincial Governor, in this case the governor of West Flanders. However on Tuesday morning the Governor of West Flanders Carl Decaluwé (Christian democrat) joined Sander Loones on the beach. Governor Decaluwé told VRT News that “This is a first in the history of West Flanders. It was for practical reasons that Sander Loones asked to be able to take the oath on the beach. Today the Minister of the Interior, Bernard Quintin (Francophone liberal) is coming here on a working visit. So we were both present in Koksijde anyway. Mr Decaluwé went on to say that “The law only stipulates that the oath must be taken in the presence of the provincial governor.  Whether it takes place in my official residence, on the beach or elsewhere it's perfectly in accordance with the law. However, this doesn’t mean that in future new mayors will be able to choose where they take the oath. We'll keep this as a one-off”. Mr Loones told journalists that “We had set up a table on the beach so that we could sign the documents, and we had some flags. I know that the governor also loves the sea. He sails, as do I. I think it's wonderful that I was able to take the oath on the beach”. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Kate Abnett covers EU climate and energy policy in Brussels, reporting on Europe’s green transition and how climate change is affecting people and ecosystems across the EU. Other areas of coverage include international climate diplomacy. Before joining Reuters, Kate covered emissions and energy markets for Argus Media in London. 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All rights reserved HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to visit Belgium A unique fishing tradition is still preserved in Oostduinkerke is the only place in Europe where the traditional way of fishing on horseback is still alive It used to be widely practised along the coast of the North Sea but only a dozen households still adhere to this 700-year-old tradition the local fishermen gather on the shore to catch shrimp Shrimpers (or paardenvissers) wear bright yellow outfits and rubber boots as they ride strong Brabant horses into the sea The horses walk breast-deep into the water and drag homemade nets behind them to catch the shrimp pick the shrimp from the net and put them in big baskets on the horses’ sides The festival begins in the early afternoon before the high tide so that fishermen have enough time to demonstrate their mastery shrimpers and spectators head to the town square where the catch is weighed and the winner of the fishing contest is chosen the festival has other forms of entertainment to offer The Shrimp Parade is a colourful procession with numerous floats the city centre is occupied by a folklore market visitors shouldn't miss the opportunity to taste the dishes made from the freshest shrimp around 10,000 people visit Oostduinkerke to attend the festival UNESCO recognized shrimp fishing on horseback as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity shrimp specialties may be found all across the country Oostduinkerke BruggeOostduinkerkeBruggeLast updated: May 12, 2023Authors: People interested In the small Belgian town of Oostduinkerke, a small number of families maintain a disappearing practice that was once a common sight along the Belgian coast and European waterways: fishermen riding horses through shallow waters. They're braving the chilly surf in search of shrimp. Horse and rider venture out until the water reaches the animal's chest. Behind them, a chain and net stretch back into the waves. As the horse walks, the chain drags over the sand and creates vibrations that cause the shrimp to jump into the net. Every half hour or so, the team returns to shore so the horse can rest and the fisherman can sort through the catch with sieves. This kind of fishing is no longer economically viable, which is why it's now found only in Oostduinkerke. (Financial support from the tourism board helps keep the tradition, which was named to UNESCO's intangible heritage list, afloat.) Still, it's not a performance: You can find the day's catch for sale in town. In the small Belgian town of Oostduinkerke, a small number of families maintain a disappearing practice that was once a common sight along the Belgian coast and European waterways: fishermen riding horses through shallow waters. They’re braving the chilly surf in search of shrimp. Horse and rider venture out until the water reaches the animal’s chest. Behind them, a chain and net stretch back into the waves. As the horse walks, the chain drags over the sand and creates vibrations that cause the shrimp to jump into the net. Every half hour or so, the team returns to shore so the horse can rest and the fisherman can sort through the catch with sieves. This kind of fishing is no longer economically viable, which is why it’s now found only in Oostduinkerke. (Financial support from the tourism board helps keep the tradition, which was named to UNESCO’s intangible heritage list, afloat.) Still, it’s not a performance: You can find the day’s catch for sale in town. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best of Gastro Obscura in your inbox. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Belgian shrimp fishermen ride cart horses to haul a net out in the sea to catch shrimps during low tide at the coastal town of Oostduinkerke July 29, 2013. At the end of the fishing season, the fishermen and their mounts leave the water to empty the net and to put the contents into two wicker baskets fixed on each side of the horse. This traditional method of catching shrimps along the North Sea coast, which dates back to some 500 years, attracts tourists every summer. (Photo/Agencies) The requested content cannot be loaded.Please try again later. HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest season to travel to Belgium One of the key specialties of Belgium and a favourite among locals You can find shrimp on the menus of refined seafood restaurants Being soft and having a distinctively sweet taste freshly cooked unpeeled shrimp are the perfect snack to accompany beer Among the most delicious of Belgian specialties are the shrimp croquettes (garnaalkroket) They consist of a creamy shrimp mixture covered with a thin crispy potato crust on the outside Another shrimp-based dish is tomate-crevettes – raw tomatoes stuffed with a mixture of shrimp and mayonnaise but when it is accompanied by Belgian fries tomate-crevettes becomes a worthy main course The best place to taste shrimp is Oostduinkerke where local fishermen still maintain the tradition of catching shrimp on horseback they will cook their catch at the beach giving spectators a chance to try freshly caught shrimp The Shrimp Festival also takes place here annually—on the last weekend of June Shrimp snacks are offered on private food tours< in the city of Bruges located only 40 minutes drive from the Oostduinkerke The visitors of Brussels who are limited in time may enjoy North Sea shrimp without leaving the capital Oostduinkerke Brugge BrusselsOostduinkerkeBruggeBrusselsLast updated: July 5, 2021Authors: People interested Early on April Fools’ Day fire-fighters and municipal staff of the west coast seaside resort of Oostduinkerke placed a fake killer whale or orca on the beach The papier-mâché animal was part of an April Fools stunt The stunt was organised with the collaboration of a local carnival group that constructed the orca out of wooden beams papier-mâché and chicken wire for its carnival float With security guards and posts thrown in the scene looked pretty convincing and easily made its way onto social media On closer inspection the fake nature of the animal was clear “What a great April Fools’ joke” exclaimed one beachcomber “Fire-fighters set a pretty convincing scene I only noticed it was fake when I approached up close!” Last October a real orca washed up on the beach between the West Coast resorts of Koksijde and De Panne (VIDEO) A Shrimper rides a carthorse to haul a net out to catch shrimps in Oostduinkerke The tradition of shrimp fishing on horseback was listed as "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2013 WHO knew you could enjoy a Center Parcs-style holiday this half-term for less than £100 While it might not be a household name in the UK, Sunparks is the little sister of the European Center Parcs lots of family activities and are set in nature But the cost of holidaying at the two Sunparks sites is generally a lot less than at its well-known sibling Now's the time to grab an absolute bargain as two people can stay in the hotel at Sunparks Kempense Meren for two nights over half-term for €99 or a lodge for five people for three nights for just €200 Meanwhile, the cheapest last-minute deals at Center Parcs Europe for the same nights are €159 for two people at Bispinger Heide in Germany or €419 at Les Ardennes in Belgium you arrive on either a Monday or a Friday and stay for three so there's less flexibility if that doesn't suit your timeframe I first took my family to a Sunparks site for a holiday with friends during February halfterm a few years ago We couldn't believe how similar it was to Center Parcs, with a big central dome where you could swim, eat out, play or go to the spa. the De Haan aan zee site where we stayed has since been rebranded to a Center Parcs leaving just two Belgian sites in the Sunparks stable We've just come back from Center Parcs Zandvoort an Zee in the Netherlands which also used to be a Sunparks until it was upgraded by parent company Pierre et Vacances so it's no wonder that there are some similarities between the two there are a few key differences you need to know before you book a Sunparks break We weren't that impressed by the standard of the accommodation we had booked at De Haan, as the paintwork needed sprucing up and the furnishings weren't a patch on what we'd experienced at Center Parcs in the UK It's definitely a budget option rather than the more upmarket offering we expect in this country There's no oven in the kitchen at Sunparks so you need to factor that into your plans when you do a food shop your beds might not be made up on arrival and you might not be supplied with bedlinen or towels so it's worth taking a close look at what's included before you book which was very different from the woodland breaks Center Parcs UK is known for The Sunparks sites are also a great base for exploring Belgium - we took a drive into Bruges enjoying waffles with chocolate sauce while wandering the historic town Of the two Sunparks sites, Oostduinkerke aan zee is the easiest to get to from the UK, as it's just an hour drive from Calais or half an hour from Dunkirk Kempense Meren is better to get to from the Hook of Holland If you choose the overnight option for the Harwich-Hook of Holland ferry you'll give yourself more time on your arrival and departure day to explore the continent or enjoy the park facilities You could also do a longer drive through the Netherlands and take the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry if you live in Scotland or the north I wouldn't be surprised if the last two Sunparks sites get upgraded into Center Parcs in the near future So it seems like now's the time to bag a bargain in Belgium before the Sunparks sites get a Center Parcs pricetag Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Published: Invalid Date A FAMILY holiday can quickly spiral out of control when it comes to cost with some staycations costing thousands of pounds But one European holiday park offers a budget-friendly alternative that's £1,000 cheaper than Center Parcs Located on the Belgium coast Sunparks Oostduinkerke Aan Zee is often hailed as the European alternative to Center Parcs Despite being a 5-minute drive from Groenendijk Strand (the local beach), the European holiday park has its own tropical swimming zone with water slides Other facilities at the pet-friendly holiday park include an outdoor mini golf course, squash facilities, a tennis court Other nearby attractions include Plopsaland de Panne - a family-friendly theme park with more than 55 attractions Several popular rides at the theme park include Bumba's World Trip Entry tickets to the theme park start from €48.50 (£41.50) for a full-paying adult and €18 (£15.38) for children between 85cm and 99cm Sunparks Oostduinkerke aan zee has a 3.5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor from 1,600 reviews. A second person wrote: "The park has a lot for families to do, and it's probably a cheaper option than Center Parcs There's a good supermarket on site too." Someone else said: "We had a fantastic time at Oostduinkerke - such a lovely part of the world." But other holidaymakers weren't as impressed with the facilities and described the park's decor as "dated" One person wrote: "We’ve been visiting this Sunparks for many years - probably since the early 90s it has become tired and is awaiting a refurb." Despite the mixed comments, nearly 1,000 holidaymakers gave the Belgium holiday park either four or five stars This was often because of the park's budget-friendly prices Sun Online Travel found a seven-night break at a holiday house in Sunparks Oostduinkerke Aan Zee costing £1,074 for a family of four during the Easter holidays Meanwhile, a lodge at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest would cost £2,198 - more than £1,000 extra The easiest way to reach the European holiday parks is by taking a ferry According to Discover Ferries, Brit holidaymakers can travel from Dover to France from £79 per car for up to four people with DFDS Families can also book a three-day return break from £99 with P&O Ferries Irish Ferries is also offering a three-day return break from £98 as well as a five-day return break from £128 From Calais it's a 50-minute drive to Sunparks Oostduinkerke Aan Zee Those Brits travelling from Scotland and the North of England can take a DFDS ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam from £49 per person the site is a three and a half hour drive away There are plenty of other holiday parks in Europe that Brits can visit too and Eurocamp has added plenty to its network this year One of the biggest European holiday resorts has added an additional 250 new holiday parks to its network which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year From giant waterparks to wild swimming spots and private beaches the newly acquired parks have a bit of something for everyone Eurocamp will soon have 400 parks across its network, with resorts mainly in France but also in Spain, Italy, Germany, Croatia, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg Last summer, Sun Online Travel visited Sun Online Travel visited Sunparks describing it as a Center Parcs style holiday without the price tag Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse has revealed the UK holiday parks that she thinks are better than Center Parcs Everything you need to know about passports