Shrimp fishers on horseback in Oostduinkerke

Would you like to see our men and women on horseback brave the waves?

The shrimp fishers go out into the sea throughout the year, except during the winter months. They also give demonstrations to showcase their skills during holiday periods (April - September).
It is definitely something worth seeing.

Find out when you can see the fishers at work in the calendar.

Shrimp fisher on horseback

More than mere heritage

Shrimp fishing on horseback is a centuries-old craft in which shrimps are fished using a Brabant or Belgian draft horse.

It is a tradition that is closely tied to nature and it depends on the elements and the tides.

Shrimp fishing on horseback in Oostduinkerke has been on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2013. We will shortly be celebrating the tenth anniversary of the recognition of this tradition.

It continues to be a joy to see the fishers clad in yellow riding on Brabant draft horses who brave the murky green waters of the North See to catch grey shrimps.

The craft of fishing on horseback

It’s an age-old tradition, yet very much of this time. Shrimp fishing on horseback is a centuries-old craft in which shrimps are fished using a Brabant draft horse. The fishermen and fisherwomen enter the sea several times a week with their horse and net, except during the cold winter months.

When do the horseback fishers go out into the sea?

The calendar shows the demonstration sessions. Please note that you will not be able to enjoy cooked shrimps after all of these sessions. You can find the dates when shrimps are cooked on the calendar.

Come and see the shrimp fishers on horseback but stay safe

During the summer months, our shrimp fishers on horseback demonstrate their craft on the beach at Oostduinkerke almost every day. Thousands of visitors enjoy this wonderful tradition each year.

What does the demonstration look like?

UNESCO dossier, how it all began

The NAVIGO museum is responsible for the safekeeping of this heritage. Shrimp fishing on horseback in Oostduinkerke has featured on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2013.

Book your trip now – contact details of the shrimp fishers

Book a private session with one of the shrimp fishers on horseback.

Shrimp Festival: held since 1950

The final weekend of June is dedicated to the shrimp. It is an annual tribute to the sea and to our shrimp fishers.

Sing along with Mariette Crevette

Mariette Crevette represents the idealised mother of the shrimp fisher in the local folklore of Oostduinkerke.

Shrimp fishers on horseback: interesting facts

Jan Huyghe wrote a standard reference (192 pages) about shrimp fishing on the coast. The book contains 700 facts about shrimp fishing on horseback.

Recruitment process: How do you become a shrimp fisher?

It’s not so easy to become a shrimp fisher. After all, each profession has its own do’s and don’ts.

Tourist Office Koksijde-Oostduinkerke

Zeelaan 303, 8670 Koksijde
Tel. +32 (0)58 51 29 10
E-mail: toerisme@koksijde.be

www.visitkoksijde.be