Fire damages 6,000 square metres of dunes on Belgium’s coast
A fire burned about 6,000 square metres of dunes between Wenduine and Blankenberge on Sunday, 12 July, disrupting road and tram traffic before firefighters brought it under control.
In 30 seconds
- MDK assessed approximately 6,000 square metres of dune damage.
- The fire started shortly after 16:00 on Sunday, 12 July 2026.
- Firefighters controlled the flames after about one hour.
- The coastal road and Coast Tram were temporarily interrupted.
Updated 14 July 2026, 10:00 CEST — Firefighters brought a fast-moving dune fire between Wenduine and under control on Sunday, 12 July, after it damaged about 6,000 square metres of vegetation. The Flemish Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services, known as MDK, provided the revised damage estimate on Monday, according to La Libre, La DH and The Brussels Times.
The fire began shortly after 16:00 near the Wrakhoutbrug bridge, on the coastal strip between Wenduine and Blankenberge. Het Nieuwsblad reported that several fire sites were identified along a stretch of roughly 200 to 300 metres. Fire crews controlled the flames after about an hour and remained to extinguish residual hotspots. The cause had not been established by Monday, MDK told The Brussels Times.
The emergency operation temporarily closed the Kustbaan coastal road and halted the Coast Tram through the affected area. Het Nieuwsblad reported that deployed replacement buses and that trams were able to pass again at about 19:30. MDK spokesperson Dries Derudder told The Brussels Times that the nearby bridge escaped damage and that only several fences required repair.
Early reporting placed the burned area as high as two hectares, but MDK subsequently assessed the damage at approximately 6,000 square metres. That later figure is used here because the agency manages coastal infrastructure and inspected the site after the fire. MDK said no active ecological restoration was required because the dune vegetation was expected to regenerate naturally.
The incident came during dry conditions that raised the wider risk of fires in Flemish nature areas. On 13 July, Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns announced code orange for fire danger across all Flemish provinces. Flemish government guidance defines orange as high fire danger and prohibits smoking or making fires in forests and designated nature areas.
Where this is happening
View on map Blankenberge →Dunes are more than recreational landscapes: they form part of the coast’s natural protection against the sea. An MDK redevelopment completed in Wenduine in 2024 illustrates how the Flemish authorities combine coastal defence, habitat management and public access. For residents and visitors, the immediate disruption has ended, but caution remains necessary in dry vegetation. Authorities have not announced a cause, leaving the origin of the fire as the main unanswered question.
What to do
The fire is under control and the temporary Kustbaan and Coast Tram interruptions have ended, so the article identifies no continuing travel restriction. Visitors heading to Wenduine or Blankenberge should nevertheless respect damaged dune fencing and any locally marked access limits while repairs are pending. During prolonged dry weather, avoid flames, discarded cigarettes or other possible ignition sources in dunes and nature areas, and report smoke or fire immediately to emergency services. Anyone planning a coastal trip should check De Lijn and local traffic information for current conditions rather than relying on the disruption reported for 12 July.
Impact
Regional — The direct impact was concentrated between Wenduine and Blankenberge: the Kustbaan closed temporarily, Coast Tram services stopped, and several dune fences require repair.
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