Where is the train station in Knokke-Heist?
Knokke-Heist has three railway stations: Knokke, Heist and Duinbergen, all on the line to Bruges.
- Knokke station: the terminus is on Maurice Lippensplein in the centre of Knokke, about a 15-minute walk from the beach. The Coast Tram (Kusttram) leaves right next to the station.
- Trains: an intercity runs every hour via Bruges and Ghent to Brussels and on to Leuven; it also stops at Heist and Duinbergen. On weekdays extra rush-hour trains run to Kortrijk.
- Summer: in July and August the Belgian railways (NMBS/SNCB) run extra trains (the Kust-Express) between Bruges and Knokke.
- Journey time: about 20 minutes from Bruges, about 50 minutes from Ghent and about 1.5 hours from Brussels. From the Netherlands you travel via Antwerp and change in Ghent or Bruges.
- Journey planner: current times are on belgiantrain.be and in the NMBS/SNCB app.
How do you travel to Knokke-Heist by public transport?
The train takes you straight to Knokke-Heist, and the Coast Tram (Kusttram) links the town with every resort along the coast as far as De Panne.
- Train: an hourly intercity from Brussels, Ghent and Bruges to Knokke, Heist and Duinbergen stations.
- Coast Tram: the tram starts at Knokke station and stops in Duinbergen and Heist, among other places; in summer the tram runs about every 10 minutes, the rest of the year usually every 15 to 20 minutes and less often in the evening. It takes about an hour to Ostend and just over two hours to De Panne.
- From the Netherlands and Germany: take the train to Antwerp or Brussels and change there to the intercity towards Bruges and Knokke.
- Paying on De Lijn: on the tram and bus, hold your debit card, credit card or smartphone against the white reader; contactless payment also works with foreign cards. You only tap in, not out. You can also buy a ticket in advance in the De Lijn app.
- Works on the tram: in 2026 and 2027 De Lijn is renewing tracks and stops, including in Ostend and Bredene. On some evenings buses replace the trams, so check De Lijn before you travel.
- Journey planner: train times on belgiantrain.be, trams and buses on delijn.be.
How do you get to Knokke-Heist by car?
Knokke-Heist lies in the north-eastern corner of the Belgian coast and can be reached via the E40 and Bruges or via the N49 from Antwerp and the Netherlands.
- From Brussels and Ghent: follow the E40 (A10) towards Ostend as far as Bruges, then take the N31 towards Zeebrugge and the A11 to Knokke.
- From Antwerp and the Netherlands: drive through the Kennedytunnel and along the E34 to Zelzate, then take the N49 past Eeklo and Maldegem to Knokke.
- From Zeeland: through the Westerscheldetunnel, which has been toll free for cars, motorhomes and motorcycles since 30 December 2024, and on via Sluis.
- From northern France: from Lille take the A17 (E403) past Kortrijk to Bruges, then the N31 and the A11.
- Driving time without traffic: Ghent about 50 minutes, Antwerp about 1 hour, Brussels and Lille about 1 hour 20 minutes, Rotterdam about 2 hours, Cologne about 3.5 hours.
- On arrival: parking is paid in the centre and along the seafront; on busy days head straight for a large car park.
Can you cycle to Knokke-Heist?
Yes, Knokke-Heist lies on the coastal cycle route and is easy to reach from Bruges and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen on flat cycle paths.
- From Bruges: about 20 kilometres along the Damse Vaart canal via the little town of Damme, one of the finest cycle routes in Flanders.
- From the Netherlands: from Cadzand you cycle past the Zwin to Knokke. From Walcheren take the Westerschelde Ferry from Vlissingen to Breskens and cycle another 25 kilometres or so.
- Coastal cycle route: the coast route (part of EuroVelo 12) runs along the entire Belgian coast, with a dense network of cycle junctions.
- Bikes on the train: on NMBS trains you buy a bike supplement in advance; folding bikes travel free. On the Coast Tram a bike is allowed if there is space, with a separate De Lijn bike ticket. On summer days trains and trams are often too full.
- Bike rental: Knokke-Heist has plenty of bike rental shops, including e-bikes and go-karts.