Sculptures in public spaces
For decades Knokke-Heist has been adding contemporary visual art to its streets, so just about every square has its own work of art.
- Barry Flanagan's hare: at the end of the promenade in Het Zoute, close to the Zwin, stands Hospitality by British sculptor Barry Flanagan.
- A figure on the breakwater: on a breakwater near the Zwin, Another Time XVI by Antony Gormley gazes out over the North Sea.
- Four monoliths: at the end of the Graaf Léon Lippensdreef stand four stone monoliths by German artist Ulrich Rückriem.
- Zadkine's Poet: on the Albertplein stands De Poëet (The Poet) by Ossip Zadkine, one of the great names of modern sculpture.
- AVL men: on the Abraham Hansplein stand the Two Large AVL Men by Dutch artist Joep Van Lieshout.
- Delvoye and West: on the Driehoeksplein you will find the compass rose Rose des Vents II by Wim Delvoye, and on the Rubensplein the Lemurs by Austrian artist Franz West.
- Eva by the Zegemeer: the statue Eva by French sculptor Eugène Dodeigne stands by the Zegemeer lake.
- On the beach and in Heist: on the beach at Albertstrand, between the Casino and De Wandelaar, stands the Lifeguard Chair by Kris Martin, and in Heist you will find Nest by Claire Todd in the Bakkersstraat.
Magritte and Delvaux in the Casino
The Knokke Casino, opened in 1930 to a design by architect Léon Stynen, is not just a place to play but also a treasure house of Belgian art.
- The Enchanted Domain: René Magritte painted Le Domaine enchanté for the Casino, a surrealist mural of eight panels that runs all around the room and was completed in 1953.
- The legendary journey: Paul Delvaux's Le Voyage légendaire from 1974 hangs here, a work measuring 4.4 by 13 metres.
- Keith Haring: American pop artist Keith Haring also left a large artwork in the Casino.
- A chandelier from Murano: the Casino is home to a six-tonne chandelier of Venetian crystal with some 22,000 glass pieces.
- Take a look inside: each year the Casino hosts the Knokke Art Fair, a good opportunity to see the building from the inside.
Galleries in Het Zoute
Knokke-Heist is known for its many art galleries, most of them in chic Het Zoute.
- Art along the Kustlaan: along the Kustlaan and the surrounding streets, galleries alternate with boutiques and terraces.
- Big names: galleries such as Guy Pieters Gallery, Maruani Mercier, De Zutter Art Gallery and Samuel Vanhoegaerden Gallery show work by internationally renowned artists.
- Just walk in: you don't need to be a collector, most galleries are happy for you to walk in and look around.
- Gallery weekend: in autumn, around ten galleries open their doors together during BRAFA Art Discovery Knokke-Heist.
Festivals and fairs
Art events fill the calendar all year round, some with a long tradition.
- Art in the garden: around Ascension and Pentecost, the Tentuinstelling takes place, a cycling and walking route past hundreds of artworks in special places, including private gardens.
- What's on: more art and culture events can be found in the events calendar.
Cultural centre and museum
There is plenty of art and culture indoors too, perfect for a rainy day at the seaside.
- Scharpoord cultural centre: at Scharpoord the building itself is art, with a neon work by Narcisse Tordoir on the façade, lighting by designer Ingo Maurer in the café and the Social Sofa in the garden.
- With children: HEY Museum has a children's trail with a treasure hunt, and during the Cartoon Festival there are drawing workshops for kids.
