The resort saw an increase in both day-trippers and overnight guests, reaffirming its status as the most visited seaside town on the Belgian coast. While Ostend attracted slightly more visitors in July, a strong August performance allowed Knokke-Heist to finish at the top for the entire summer season.
The month of July significantly boosted the summer figures, with over 1.12 million visitors, a 20.3 percent rise from 2025. August remained the busiest month with nearly 1.19 million visitors, showing a slight decrease of 0.4 percent from the previous year. This trend brought visitor numbers closer between the two months, aligning with the ambition for better visitor distribution throughout the summer.
Knokke-Heist welcomed approximately 1.11 million day visitors and 1.21 million overnight visitors, representing increases of 11 and 6.5 percent, respectively. Just over half of all visitors stayed overnight. With 18.4 percent of all overnight stays on the Belgian coast, Knokke-Heist secured the leading position for this visitor group.
Accommodation figures also indicate a well-filled summer: hotels achieved an average occupancy rate of 80.3 percent, matching 2025 levels, with hotel guests staying an average of 2.1 nights. Private holiday rentals saw an average occupancy of 76.6 percent, with stays lasting an average of 4.9 nights.
While Belgian visitors constituted the largest group, international interest grew the fastest. The number of international visitors rose by 15.2 percent to over 534,000, compared to a 6.8 percent growth among Belgian visitors.
Dutch tourists, in particular, flocked to Knokke-Heist. With 250,803 visitors, a 33.3 percent increase, they represented nearly half of the international audience. Germany followed with 68,173 visitors, and France with 50,248. The number of Swiss visitors also increased by 13.2 percent.
The sustained summer weather and the extensive range of activities and events, including the International Fireworks Festival which attracted over 220,000 spectators, helped to spread visitor numbers throughout the holiday period. The fireworks days also saw a clear increase in visitors from the surrounding region.
With increased visitor numbers, a more balanced distribution between July and August, and growing international interest, Knokke-Heist can look back on a highly successful summer season.
