Horseback shrimp fishers in Oostduinkerke
In Oostduinkerke, part of Koksijde, shrimp fishing also takes place on horseback.
A living fishing tradition
In Oostduinkerke, part of Koksijde, shrimp fishing also takes place on horseback. The fisher guides a draught horse through the waves parallel to shore, pulling a net along the seabed. The practice combines knowledge of the sea, work with the net and trust between fisher and animal. It has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2013. The recognition concerns a living skill, not simply an image of a horse in the sea.
When can you see the fishers?
Start with the official demonstration calendar published by NAVIGO. Choose a session announced for your visit day and note its location and time. Demonstrations do not follow a fixed daily timetable. The museum also explains that shrimp cooking does not follow every session: check that detail in the calendar. Do not calculate a demonstration time from a tide table alone. Read the organiser's information again before travelling. On site, leave space around horses and nets and follow the fishers' instructions.
Understand what you are watching
The net is held open as the horse advances. A chain disturbs the sand, causing shrimp to jump into the net, and the catch is then sorted. UNESCO's account explains the technique and how fishers pass it on. Watching preparation and the return of the net helps make sense of what happens beyond the silhouette in the water. Give yourself time to observe the different stages rather than treating the event as a brief photo stop.
Continue at NAVIGO
NAVIGO explores fishing and the lives of fishing families. North Sea aquariums, a fisherman's house and the wooden vessel OD 1. Martha provide different ways into the subject, including for children. Consult the official visitor information for tickets, opening, access and the accessibility report. A museum visit and a beach demonstration are separate appointments. Check our Koksijde and coastal tram guides and verify the last leg to the exact demonstration site: the museum and beach are not interchangeable journey destinations.
Koksijde: dunes, heritage and the seaside · Coastal tram: routes, tickets and accessible stops · Oostduinkerke: village and beach
Official sources checked on : UNESCO — Oostduinkerke ; NAVIGO — horse fishers / Pferdefischer ; NAVIGO — visit / Besuch. The suggested itinerary is editorial advice. Confirm timetables, tickets and access with the operator or venue before travelling.