>>>back to working groups overview

Area	Middelkerke
Place	Middelkerke, West-Flanders
Country	Belgium
Topics	Ecosystem changes, Climate Change, public awareness, coastal infrastructure
Author(s)	Mana Taheri, Anna Maria Järvsalu, Maziar Bisheban

Rationale

Why do you think this case is relevant? What is your hypothesis considering the landscape challenges?

This case is relevant because it is a seasonal tourist attraction and it has three strongly distinctive landscape patterns- semi-natural wide coastline, and artificial urban and agricultural patterns, which are affected because of people. Artificiality and existence of man brings out challenges in biodiversity, soils, water, and marine environment. The coast is most sensitive to floods, erosion, and eutrophication.

Location and scope

You can edit this map with the map editor

Loading map...

A Landscape System Analysis

A.1 Landscape layers and their system context

Geomorphology, landscape units and coastal typology

The terrain forming the coat of Belgium dates back from the Holocene epoch (1.7 thousand years ago) from the Quaternary era. Due to the old age of the geological foundation and the proximity to the North Sea, most of the terrain is now underwater.

This problem was handled by the Belgium state by creating new arificial areas.

Land use

In Middelkerke the most dominant land use structures are agricultural land, urban fabrics, dunes on East and West side of the sub-municipality, and closed camping grounds around the town. In the case of increasing the urban structure, there is a possibility for agricultural land to decrease. Driving forces are tourism growth and changes in local structure. For example if there are enough possibilities for people to live there permanently (job, education facilities, etc), then probably the urban structure will decrease. The most likely and fastest changes will occur in agricultural land. Because of the urban structure increase and human hand, the dunes near the coast could be in danger.

Middelkerke Land Use Map
Middelkerke Central Land Use Vision/// Google Earth

Green/blue infrastructure

What are the major potential elements of a green/blue infrastructure network? Are these likely to change/disappear? Why is that?

Green area
Blue area
Natural area
Normandpark
Agricultural field
Vijver Normandpark

One of the most dominant green/blue infrastructures at Middlekerke can be found along the coastline. The Middlekerke s beach line is the longest in Belgium. It contains sand beaches. Residents and tourists can experience nature in this way. There are a Hiking trail from Middelkerke-Westende and Statues of cartoon characters and Cinema on the beach. It may affect the infrastructures of this green and blue and it might damage the nature. Tides and storms can affect also. Normandpark is A green infrastructure in the center of Middelkerke. It is located near the beach. The pond of Normandpark was redone in a sustainable way. This area is really comfortable for enjoying the nature in the center of Middlekerke.In addition, there are lots of agricultural fields that can be considered as green infrastructure.Most of the agricultural field in Belgium is divided between barley, corn, wheat, potatoes, and vegetables and fruits and there are some areas for breeding animals.

Normandpark
Green/blue infrastructures
Agricultural weekend

Actors and stakeholders

Draw a stakeholder and/or power map: Who is affected highly but with low power? Who has high power but is not affected?

The main actors are the Middelkerke Municipality and the West Flanders Authorities, but also the business owners, the investors, the community and tourists. Each of these actors and stakeholders has a higher or lower impact on the changes that affect Middelkerke and a higher or lower interest in what happens to the city.

Middelkerke Powermap

Sacred spaces and heritage

Which places/elements hold cultural value and to whom?

Built environment

Middelkerke is rich by its architectural heritage. Beautiful street views have characterized the town from the 19th century. Although the town has modernized you can see the hints of the city's historic architectural value through the Townhall, Traction station, Saint Theresa Chapel and through hotels, villas and even garage. The second most important value of the place is the train connection between Knokke and De Panne. That's the reason why seaside tourism in the area has been popular since World War I. These values are important to the citizens and tourists by its beauty and formed network.

Brown marked as architectural heritage, green as landscape heritage elements (Testerep trench - Large Articulated trench on south side of Middelkerke center; Duinenstraat natural road on the east). Source:geo.onroerenderfgoed.be
Middelkerke Town Hall in Spermaliestraat 1. Protected building since June of 2002 in the Middelkerke Submunicipality. The eclectic Town Hall was built in 1924-1925 and is designed by architect G. Van Damme. [1]
The Coast Tram, the longest tram line in the world, is a public transport service between Knokke and De Panne [2]. In Middelkerke there are two architectural heritage buildings in Leopldlaan street honoring the original tramline- the Tram booth [3] and Traction station. The Traction station (on the picture) is built in the early 1920s and is designed by architect Georges Vivenoy. On the facade, there can be seen an art deco impact. Traction station has been protected as a monument since October of 1995.[4]
Art Nouveau style chapel of Saint Theresa is a protected building since June of 2002. The modernist north-south oriented chapel was founded in 1932-1933 and is designed by architect AV Flaubert. In the interior, there are numerous neoclassical elements, frescos and stained glass windows making the chapel an important sight to see. [5][6]
Middelkerke is rich by its architectural heritage. There are numerous protected buildings in the style of art deco and eclectic, built in the 1920s. On the picture is an example of eclectic Hotel Continental on the Joseph Casselaan 3, Zeedijk 59. It is situated in the promenade and has a view to the sea from Zeedijk street [7]. Few of them are the style of neo-gothic and neo-Rococo, which are built around 1889-1899. [8]

Natural environment

In Middelkerke there are three most important nature reserves- Warandeduinen, Puidebroeken, and Raversyde nature park. If Puidebroeken is important for birds, frogs, insects, and plants then Warandeduinen and Raversyde hold extra value for people's health and to the environment.

Warandeduinen nature park on the East side of Middelkerke. Puidebroeken on the South-East of Middelkerke. Raversyde nature park on the North-East of Middelkerke
The Warandeduinen nature park is a certified nature reserve since 2003. The area size is 33 hectares big. [9]. This is a calcareous dune belt with a large and varied natural richness between Westende-Bad and Middelkerke. The area is rich by the growth of orchids [10]. Watch more photos in link: [11].
The Puidebroeken (in English: Puffy Trousers) is a 14.5 hectares big nature reserve near Middelkerke. It is a protected area since 2003. [12]. The area contains mainly artificial grounds from World War I when it was used to excavate clay for the production of brick. For now it a wet meadow that has a bad water runoff. There are living numerous meadow birds, frogs, insects, and plants. The area is not freely accessible. [13]
Raversyde Nature Park is a large landscape of water, reed fields, grasslands, meadows, plantations, and forests. It is situated in Ostend but is close to our case study Middelkerke. [14]

Symbols of Middelkerke, artefacts

In between the coast of Middelkerke to Westende-Bad there are 15 bronze statues of cartoon characters and also five Beaufort monuments such as two horns (I Can Hear It) and excavator (Caterpillar 5bis), etc. These sculptures add symbolic meaning to Middelkerke's coast and town, and invites visitors to see them.

Comic art in Middelkerke [15]
I can hear it by Ivars Drulle. Beaufort gems in Middelkerke.[16]

Visual appearance and landscape narrative

Which elements are essential for the landscape character?

In Middelkerke, the coast and the sea play a central role. It contains sand beaches of about nine kilometers long which are connected by a boulevard and have characteristic features with its urban area and agricultural land behind. [17] [18]

Has the landscape been painted or otherwise depicted, when and whom? Which elements are essential?

Many painters illustrated the interesting coastal landscape the colorful sea, and the nice urban view. Pierre Stefani (France, born 1938) depicted where people are enjoying in the summertime and where beach shows low sea tide. Claude Hardenne (France- 1946) depicted the colorful sea at the age of 16. [19][20]

Which narratives exist? Who has written about this landscape or depicted it in some way?

The story of Middelkerke: Middelkerke seaside town equipped with Hotels, apartments, villas, cafes, restaurants, and beaches, as well as situated in dunes and polders. The polders perfectly suit for walks or bike and skeeters tour through an overwhelming landscape. Beach facilities and public facilities like tram are also located within the coastal area. [21] The first reference of Middelkerke is found in 1218. Before 1867 it mainly was farming settlements. One of the first world images of this area can be found on the map of the first world war by the war office and also a picture that shows the first world war in 1914 to 1918 that is taken by Chronicle. [22]

Whether to see the street view about 100 years ago and now you can see how drastically the image of the city has changed. Diverse architecture has been changed to a modern gray cubic wall, where nothing distinct.

Pierre Stefani (French, born 1938)Middelkerke, the embankment and the beach at low tid
Claude Hardenne - "You wanted to see Honfleur"
Agnieszka Rozek - "Let's go to bed Middelkerke"
Chronicle / Alamy Stock Photo - Coastal defence battery Middelkerke, Belgium. A gun of the Cecilie coastal defence battery near Middelkerke in West Flanders, Belgium, during the First World War. - Year: 1914-1918
War Office - First World War map
Middelkerke street view, La Digue, Belgium, Flanders 1921.
Middelkerke promenade view, Les feux d' artifice, nowadays.

A.2 Summary of your landscape system analysis and your development targets

DPSI(R) Model of Middelkerke

Link back to the Sustainable Development Goals: Which goals are at risk?

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being; Good health and well-being are always important for inhabitants. Because of the population growth and tourism, it is necessary to keep under control the social wealth and economy, to deal with an aging society and keep it in balance with modern worldviews. Also, more free tourism could bring problems to deal with, like diseases, cultural and safety issues, etc.

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (Bike, walk or use public transportation); Although in Middelkerke there is a good pedestrian, bike and public transportation network near the coast it is important to keep them maintained and deal with infrastructure consciously taking in consideration that in Middelkerke the season lasts only 2-3 months.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (recycled paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum); Due to the season lasts only 2-3 months in a year it is good to have sustainable waste development in the season and off the season. Production of single-use waste and overproduction are the things to work with.

Goal 13: Climate action; Cause the Climate Change and Global Warming is a well-known issue in all over the world, it affects also Belgium. It has to been taken into consideration that the coastal area and the town probably will be affected by floods, strong storms and winds and other changes in climate. The seasons could also be changing every year, longer autumn and spring and shorter summer and winter, etc.

Goal 14: Life Below Water; Because of agricultural chemicals, the state of water bodies is affected. Strong rains could cause eutrophication in ditches and rivers and that causes water quality to fall in connected waterbodies.

Goal 15: Life on Land; Because of the dense urban and agricultural area, the diversity of ecology is at risk. It is important to support existing biodiversity and create opportunities with greeneries to increase it.

What is your hypothesis for this landscape?

Middelkerke is a dynamic town because of tourism. Tourism growth will affect the ecosystem because more tourism means more facilities and capacity for tourism attractions. To ensure the capacity the town needs more energy for production. More production increases the artificiality in the coast and agricultural land, and creating new and modern will lose the importance of history.

Visualise your hypothesis with one graphic/pict

explain your hypthesis briefly in the caption

Are there any existing initiatives taking action in this landscape? Do you have a critical perspective on that?

In the Middelkerke case is that they are not interested in keeping the nature and heritage of attraction for people. Instead, they want to keep their economy with seasonal events like Comic festival, market, and occasional music festivals. It causes seasonal overproduction and pollution which will change the environment and culture.

A.3 Theory reflection

Due to the Belgian National Adaptation Plan 2017-2020, the effect of climate change was taken into consideration. Because the tourism is a very important factor in this area and also the agricultural land takes a huge space among the sub-municipality it is important to make plans facing the threats of a hotter climate, increased seasonality of precipitation, changes in seasonality, extreme events like thunderstorms or heavy rains, the sea level rise, and increase of the heat islands. Furthermore, how they can reduce the economic risk of these changes. In conclusion, Belgium is looking at an adaptation program that seeks to assess vulnerability to climate change and improve communications in the country.

The International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning was given inspiration for what should be done at the National level to promote sustainable urbanization. Due to important aspects like current residents, possibly increasing future residents, economic growth and environmental protection it is necessary to sustain a balanced system in cities and even in sub-municipality like Middelkerke.

The European policy document Integrated Coastal Management focused on similar aspects. It is important to work with the coast with an ‘’ecosystem-based approach’’, facing the risks of flooding, erosion, sea-level rise and extreme weather events caused by climate change, taking into consideration all from coastal development to habitat questions. Because of the welfare of the population and the economic viability of many of the jobs available in coastal areas depends on the environmental status of these areas and their relevance to activities such as nature conservation, aquaculture, fisheries, agriculture, industry, offshore wind energy, beach, transportation, tourism, infrastructure development.

A.4 References

Sacred spaces and heritage

Agency for Heritage Heritage 2020: Town hall of Middelkerke [online] https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjects/55041 (19-02-2020)

T.T.O.-Noordzee vzw [online] http://promottonoordzee.wixsite.com/mysite/copy-of-homepage-frans (19-02-2020)

Agency for Heritage Heritage 2020: Tramway [online] https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjects/55012 (19-02-2020)

Agency for Heritage Heritage 2020: Traction Station [online] https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjects/55010 (19-02-2020)

Agency for Cultural Heritage 2020: Sint-Theresiakapel [online] https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjects/54979 (19-02-2020)

Openchurches: Sint-Theresia [online] https://openchurches.eu/en/churches/sint-theresia-middelkerke (19-02-2020)

Agency for Heritage Heritage 2020: Hotel Continental [online] https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobwerpen/55054 (02-02-2020)

Agency for Heritage Heritage 2020: Heritage objects in Middlekerke [online] https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten?deelgemeente=35011A&pagina=1&gemeente=220 (02-02-2020)

Visual appearance and landscape narrative

Middelkerke, family seaside resort [online] https://middelkerke.org/en/middelkerke.php (19-02-2020)

Artistic spots in Middelkerke [online] https://www.belgiancoast.co.uk/en/artistic-spots-middelkerke-westende (19-02-2020)

First World War map of Ostende [online] http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/maps/europe/ww1/4801909.html (19-02-2020)

Middelkerke, la digue et la plage à marée basse [online] http://www.artnet.com/artists/pierre-stefani/middelkerke-la-digue-et-la-plage-%C3%A0-mar%C3%A9e-basse-5rjMrWUXAqr14-w8PXyu4A2 (19-02-2020)

Claude Hardenne - "T'as voulu voir Honfleur" [online] https://artenligne-littlevangogh.com/Middelkerke?fbclid=IwAR3i32N_9fOL4wKv5J-1vABIJ9njRfnkSZR3XImP4tlWq-CgYqOKcMdk_1M (19-02-2020)

Phase B: Landscape Evaluation and Assessment

B.1 Assessment Strategy

The goals were to find out how to increase good health and well being, contain sustainable sub-municipality and promote responsible consumption and production going towards climate action, and at the same time protect life below water and on land. From the inspiration of green infrastructure and movement towards climate action, we found useful to analyze and map overall connection with Belgium, site population, transportation and connections, cycling and hiking networks, green infrastructure, flooding and touristic and local use of recreation. Each topic was analyzed given values or bringing out the crucial patterns and from that were found risks and potentials.

B.2 Mapping

Middelkerke location population and tourism information. Middelkerke is located in the Belgian province of West-Flanders, on the North Sea, west of Oostende and east of Nieuwpoort. Belgium is located west of the Netherlands and east of France. Middelkerke has located 122 km from the capital of Belgium, Brussels. More information on the poster above.
Middelkerke has overall medium or good quality connections for cars in the urban core. Also, the public transportation connections are pretty good between the sub-municipalities and towns along the coast, where the bus or tram is driving every half an hour. The main problem in the central area is heavy traffic and congestions. Also, some connection roads are in bad condition or unsafe (narrow).
Analyzing the hinterland there are seen some lack of safe and good connections with Middelkerke for cyclists. Also in the rural area, there is potential for hiking trails. But overall the connections and network are already good.
This map shows that in the center of Middelkerke near the beach there is a lack of vegetation and it is needed to improve the greenery of those streets and it is shown with pink color. In the center near the Normandpark there lots of trees and grass, therefore it is shown with blue color that means high value. Green color shows that in some streets there are partial vegetation-some container landscaping, grass patches, and few shrubs that is considered as medium value.
In green infrastructure analysis there were given low, medium or high-values for green infrastructures, depends where are more drab or diverse vegetation. From the analysis, there can be seen that in coastal areas there are some valuable greeneries as dune nature parks and the central Normandpark. In medium quality with some patches of diverse vegetation were, for example, one family residential areas and rural agricultural land. Low quality was given to urban structures with dense infrastructure, camping grounds etc.
This map shows the areas exposed to the risk of flooding. such flooding may arise from both waterway and sea. so as the map shows water rise level for a particular flood scenario. and this map has only created for the coast where this parameter is relevant. So this flooding map can show different scenarios and also can show how water comes from canals beside Middelkerke and with the main road it can spread. The other risky part is Middelkerke Casino which has a medium-high risk of flood and economic risk as well. This casino is one of the main topics of discussion in the region that should be protected against floods. This is also discussed beach nourishment with a low- lying beach.
This map shows 'This map shows tourist and local activities in the Middelkerke in Belgium. Light blue includes some parks that people can stay with their families like Marva 1, Marva 2, Marva 3, Mid's Park, Park Mercator, and some other places that it is shown on the map. Beach is also shown with light blue and green that means that it is considered for different age group activities and also tourist can do some sports and also lay down, therefore it is considered as recreational activities. In the center of Middelkerke, there are 4 colors that shows that most of the tourist attraction are located there, for example, casinos and restaurants and so on located there. in some season like summer, it is overcrowded. in the center of Middelkerke. It is shown that in most of the tourist attractions the accessibility to the coast is comfortable, in the Northeast and Southwest, there are some areas for hiking that is shown with green color and in these two places the accessibility with hiking to the beach is suggested for residents and tourists who are staying there because there is not street direct to the beach. Dark blue color shows that cultural connective activities include museums and hotels.
'

B.3 Problem definition and priority setting

Potentials:

Potential for well-designed road infrastructure for all the users
Potential for local public transportation
Potential for traffic calming
Potential for hiking and cycling roads
Potential for diverse street vegetation
Potential for flood protection
Potential for forests
A potential area for leisure activities

Risks:

Risk of traffic jams and heavy traffic
Risk of high water level
Risk of temporal flooding in case of extreme storms (coastal area)
Risk of overcrowding

+ Risks of noise and air pollution (caused by traffic and overcrowding)

Priorities: street infrastructure and connections, flooding, lack of diverse vegetation

Middelkerke risk and potential map

B.4 Theory reflection

For our assessment, we chose to analyze the Green Infrastructure which gives an insight into why green infrastructure is a crucial element in a healthy city. Not only do they power the diversity of life with them, but they also provide valuable, economically important goods and services such as clean water and air, pollination, carbon storage, etc. They also have a central role going against climate change impacts and protecting us against floods and other environmental disasters.

Unfortunately, major land-use activities such as housing, agriculture, and transportation have taken a big part in the diverse ecosystem in Middelkerke. That’s why we used Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) which is used in transportation, green infrastructure, human factors and in addition flooding analysis. Each character was given a value, whether they were good or could be improved, and from that were given an evaluation of which areas are in risk and which have potential.

Also, we chose to use Tourism Map which may be an ally or a threat to conservation. The expansion and diversification of tourism had an increasing environmental impact on protected ecosystems. Therefore, it is important to assess and anticipate the potential impacts of tourism on Natural Protected Areas, to articulate the public use of NPA and their conservation. The Tourism Impact Assessment is a methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with tourism.

Limitations encountered

The challenge with finding content was that most of the articles that could be of primary help were in the Dutch language, which was not a time-efficient or reliable translation. Sometimes we would go to fake sites that did not provide the right information and also visiting the site could even more effective.

B.5 References

European Commission. Building a Green Infrastructure for Europe. Publication, 2013.
LCA (Landscape Character Assessment)

Phase C – Strategy and Master Plan

C.1 Goal Setting

Goals to:

plan better connections and diverse street vegetation
reduce density in the urban area
prepare for flooding and high water level

Define strategic planning objectives based on the evaluation findings
Link back to your original targets from section one and the Development Goals
150 words text contribution

C.2 Spatial Strategy and Transect

translate your strategic goals into a vision
develop a spatial translation of your vision
exemplify your vision in the form of a transect with concrete interventions
add map(s) and visualizations

Your case spatial translaton vision.jpg

add caption here
Your case transect.jpg

add caption here
Your case transect detail1.jpg

add caption here
Your case transect detail2.jpg

add caption here

C.3 From Theory of Change to Implementation

For implementing your vision: Which partnerships are needed? Which governance model is required?
Who needs to act and how? Draw and explain a change/process model/timeline
Which resources are needed? On which assets can you build?
add 150 words text and visuals

Your case spatial your governance model.jpg

add caption here
Your case spatial your process model.jpg

add caption here

C.4 References

give a full list of the references you have used for this section

D. Process Reflection

Reflect in your intercultural and interdisciplinary team on the outcomes of your study
Which limitations were you facing?
What have you learnt from each other?
What would you do differently next time?
You can also use diagrams/visuals
250 words text

COLAND Case Study 2020 - Middelkerke

Contents

Rationale

Location and scope

A Landscape System Analysis

A.1 Landscape layers and their system context