Back in May, I got an early introduction to summer during one long weekend. It began in a beautiful bohemian apartment in Knokke-Heist. The continuation of La Petite Forêt, this seaside escape is Elke and Fred’s second lodging project. Back in 2021, we spent three marvelous days at their little cottage right outside of Brussels. So I was flattered to have been invited to discover this newly opened place. Perfectly seaside-inspired, it will be your ideal base for exploring Knokke-Heist.
The apartment consists of a spacious open area that includes a kitchen, living, and dining room. A separate bathroom and toilet are accompanied by two bedrooms. A total of 5 guests can spend the night at this apartment. The flat is spacious enough for a long stay as well as a short one. With a washing machine, air conditioning, a terrace, and a fully equipped kitchen at your disposal, you won’t wish for more!
From here, you’ll only be a short walk away from the main beach in Knokke-Heist. A long promenade that can technically lead you all the way to the Netherlands. On the other hand, you also have two bikes at your disposal. Thanks to this bohemian apartment, you can ride your way through Knokke-Heist! We certainly took advantage of that and explored every corner of it. Not to mention how pleasant it was to ride alongside the beach. It was mid-May and everyone was out and we met so many cute puppies!
While I loved the flat, I equally adored the sunny beaches and the pastel sunsets. We enjoyed the best ice cream in town while walking down the beach at 10 pm. To me, nothing announces summer as warm late-night walks accompanied by ice cream! The adorable little beach huts in Knokke-Heist were so lovely to photograph, especially at sunset.
One of my favorite aspects of the apartment is its overall interior. A boho beach vibe with lots of natural materials and soothing tones interspersed with blue and green shades of the sea. It was hard to decide which room was my favorite! You can tell the owners put a lot of effort into it and the flat perfectly represents its seaside location.
The most impressive part of the interior has got to be the hanging egg chair. It goes without saying that I was instantly inspired to create a few idyllic scenes in it. However, I also found myself sitting inside and simply enjoying the calming swing movement. It’s the perfect cozy spot for curling up with a good book!
We spent two nights in Knokke-Heist and it was just enough time for daily bike rides, lots of ice cream, and enjoying all the sunshine. But for a more relaxing holiday, I could easily see myself staying there longer. And possibly hopping over to the Netherlands since it’s right there. We only made a quick detour to Blankenberge one evening but I’m more curious about visiting the neighboring Cadzand. Something to look forward to next time I find myself back in Knokke-Heist!
To be perfectly honest, the Belgian coast never really interested me that much. We visited once years ago, during November, and while I loved the storms and the subsequent gorgeous sunsets, that was it. I never once felt the desire to return. In general, I usually forego seaside holidays in favor of visiting historical European cities. And the Belgian coast doesn’t have the best reputation for its beaches crammed with tall apartment buildings. However, Knokke-Heist was a pleasant surprise. The beaches were only filled with identical beach cabins and not a row of concrete apartment blocks from the 1960s, like in Blankenberge or De Panne. In fact, it was a rather charming seaside destination that I wouldn’t mind revisiting!
On the whole, I only have good things to say about this lovely bohemian apartment in Knokke-Heist. It’s beautifully decorated so you’ll enjoy the time you spend indoors. And being so close to the beach, you can easily go for walks whenever you feel like it. I loved our long weekend here and found myself wanting to come back, which I didn’t expect. But I loved the calmer atmosphere of Knokke-Heist, especially in May, before the high season arrives. If you ask me, the second location that La Petite Forêt has opened in Belgium is another success and I would wholeheartedly recommend it!
