Jabbeke – Art, Nature and Trails for Curious Explorers

Jabbeke combines art history, quiet natural areas and varied trails into a destination with many different facets. At its heart is the Permeke Museum, where you can visit the former home and studio of Constant Permeke. The museum also includes the former family home, the painter’s studio and the sculptor’s studio of the modernist artist. The collection contains more than 200 works, including around 80 paintings, around 60 sculptures and around 70 drawings.

Art, Local History and Special Trails

The museum garden is also part of the visitor experience. It is open to everyone during the museum’s opening hours and can be used for relaxing, meeting and picnicking. Anyone interested in the history of the area and its artists will find further points of interest at Sint-Blasius Church. The neo-Gothic church was built in 1871 to a design by Bruges architect Antonius Verbeke. Its cemetery contains the grave of Constant Permeke and his wife Marie Delaere, as well as a tomb with a sculpture by George Minne.

For a hike focusing on cultural history, the signposted Permeke Trail is an interesting option. It follows the life and legacy of Constant Permeke, Pieter De Rudder and the du Bus de Gisignies family. The Pieter De Rudder Hike, by contrast, is an unsigned circular walk through the centre of Jabbeke that connects cultural heritage, stories and hidden places. If you would like to discover different landscapes and historical traces, the Juffrouwen-De-Man Hike runs through Varsenare past medieval castle estates, old paths, religious heritage and sites bearing traces of Roman and Celtic history. The Jacob van Maerlant Hike introduces you to Snellegem, Jacob van Maerlant, ’t Oosthof and an archaeological landscape with Merovingian traces.

For a clearly measured circuit, the Nachtegaalpad is a good choice. The route is 11 kilometres long and runs from the Stalhillebrug area towards Nieuwegebrug. The Oudlandpolder Hike leads through Stalhille past polders, a canal, ecclesiastical heritage and natural areas. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between local history, art, landscapes and a defined circular route.

Natural Areas for Walking and Cycling

Vloethemveld offers a different perspective on the surrounding area. The 365-hectare natural area includes woodland, heathland, nutrient-poor grasslands and nutrient-poor waters. The area’s character is also shaped by military heritage and memories of a prisoner-of-war camp. Various routes for walkers, runners and cyclists start at the Jabbeke access gate. The network of walking trails between Zedelgem and Jabbeke extends over 53 kilometres and has several starting points.

For orientation on site, the Vloethemveld reception gates in Jabbeke and Zedelgem provide information boards, public toilets, car parks, bicycle charging stations and picnic benches. If you would rather plan a specific cycling tour, you can add the Permeke Achterna route to your itinerary. It starts at the Permeke Museum in Jabbeke; free parking is available at the starting point.

De Hoge Dijken complements the natural attractions with quiet activities such as walking and fishing. The 52-hectare natural area regularly offers guided tours and has a visitor centre. Up to 6,000 birds overwinter in and around De Hoge Dijken every year. Plants, butterflies, insects and mammals also find a habitat there. The nature reserve is located partly within Jabbeke and partly within the nearby area of Oudenburg. The area includes the De Grote Zaagbek visitor centre and four birdwatching hides; a walk around the water takes about one hour.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Jabbeke, you can choose according to your preferred holiday dates. For art and local history, the Permeke Museum, Sint-Blasius Church and several themed trails are the main attractions. Those who prefer activity and nature can take the various starting points, Vloethemveld’s 53-kilometre walking trail network or the 11-kilometre Nachtegaalpad into account. For quieter nature observation, the landscapes of Vloethemveld and De Hoge Dijken offer different focal points. This makes Jabbeke a versatile destination for a trip where you can combine culture, hiking, cycling and nature observation according to your own interests.

For the overarching travel overview: West Flanders.

More Destinations

More places in the same destination:

Zonnebeke, De Haan, Koksijde-Bad, Waregem, Lichtervelde.