Knokke

The wide sandy beach in front of this classy seaside resort offers a variety of launches. The most chilled-out is east of town in front of 'Surfers Paradise’ beach-club. Unfortunately, you can't drive to it – so park on the roads of 'Lekkerbekhelling’ or 'Appelzakstraat’. Works best in low-pressure westerly winds, although the nearby Schelder Estuary produces a strong current. Like all Belgian spots, north-easterlies promise the biggest waves with a long fetch all the way across the North Sea. But as that's usually a summer high-pressure wind, conditions generally stay moderate.