News & Blog

Preserving Knokke-Heist's Architectural Heritage: A Year in Review

The year 2025 was a landmark year for L&G Foundation's Heritage Property Stewardship program. Over the past twelve months, we completed restoration work on seven historically significant properties throughout Knokke-Heist, bringing our total since founding to 42 restored buildings. Our documentation efforts also expanded significantly, with twelve new properties added to our heritage database, which now contains more than 150 entries.

Among the most notable projects was the restoration of Villa Zonneschijn, a 1920s Art Deco residence on the Zeedijk that had fallen into serious disrepair. The property was facing demolition when we intervened, funding a comprehensive structural assessment and connecting the owner with architects who specialize in historically accurate restoration. Today, the villa stands as a testament to what can be achieved when heritage advocates and property owners work together.

We also expanded our heritage walks program, hosting monthly guided tours that attracted over 400 participants throughout the year. These walks, led by local historians and architects, give community members the opportunity to learn about the architectural history of their neighborhoods while developing a deeper appreciation for the buildings that define Knokke-Heist's character.

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Annual Cultural Heritage Festival Brings Community Together

Our annual Cultural Heritage Festival, held on the first weekend of November, once again brought together hundreds of community members for a weekend of celebration, education, and connection. Now in its fourth year, the festival has become one of the most anticipated events in Knokke-Heist's cultural calendar, attracting visitors from across the Belgian coast.

This year's festival featured a diverse program of activities, including heritage workshops on traditional building techniques, a photography exhibition documenting the transformation of restored properties, live music performances by local artists, and a children's program designed to introduce young people to the heritage of their community. The festival was free and open to all, reflecting our commitment to accessible cultural programming.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of our annual Heritage Award, recognizing an individual or organization that has made an exceptional contribution to heritage preservation in the Knokke-Heist area. This year's recipient was the De Vrienden van de Badstad association, honored for their decades of work in documenting and advocating for the protection of historic bathhouses along the Belgian coast.

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Coastal Dune Restoration Project Shows Promising Results

L&G Foundation's Environmental Sustainability program has achieved significant results in its coastal dune restoration initiative, which was launched in partnership with the Flemish Nature Agency in 2022. Over the past three years, we have funded the restoration of native vegetation along three kilometers of coastline near Knokke-Heist, using traditional techniques combined with modern ecological science.

Recent monitoring reports indicate that the restored dune areas have shown remarkable ecological recovery. Native marram grass, sea holly, and yellow horned poppy have established strong populations, providing natural erosion control and habitat for coastal wildlife. Bird surveys conducted in the spring of 2025 documented the return of several species that had been absent from the area for over a decade, including the little tern and the sand martin.

The project has also served as an educational platform, with over 200 school students participating in guided dune ecology walks during the 2024-2025 academic year. These visits, organized through our Cultural Education program, have helped young people understand the connection between environmental conservation and heritage preservation, reinforcing the message that our natural landscape is itself a vital part of our cultural identity.

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Meet Our Volunteers: The People Who Make Our Work Possible

Behind every successful project at L&G Foundation is a team of dedicated volunteers who give their time, skills, and passion to our mission. This month, we are highlighting some of the remarkable individuals who have contributed to our work over the past year.

Among our most active volunteers is Marc Peeters, a retired architect who has been documenting heritage properties for our database since 2019. Marc's expertise in building assessment and his deep knowledge of local architectural styles have been invaluable to our Heritage Stewardship program. Over the past year alone, Marc has contributed to the documentation of eight properties and has led several heritage walks for community groups.

We also want to recognize the contribution of Sarah De Smedt, a university student who has been volunteering with our Environmental Sustainability program. Sarah organized a series of beach cleanup events that attracted over 150 volunteers and collected more than 200 kilograms of waste from the Knokke-Heist coastline. Her initiative and leadership have inspired other young people to get involved in environmental conservation.

These volunteers, and many others like them, are the heart of L&G Foundation. Their dedication allows us to extend the impact of every donation and ensures that our programs remain responsive to community needs. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please get in touch to learn about current opportunities.

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