Knokke-Heist is an administrative group of several seaside communities, with a permanent population in the neighborhood of 33,000 residents. The area is very wealthy and exclusive, with opulent villas and resort hotels; it is frequented by well-to-do European vacationers. Knokke-Heist is immediately adjacent to the Zwin Nature Reserve, which separates it from the Netherlands.
Heist-aan-Zee, Knokke, Ramskapelle, and Westkapelle are boroughs within the municipal district of Knokke-Heist.
