Koksijde, a coastal town a few kilometers from the French border with a population of 20,000, boasts the highest sand dune on the Belgian seaside. A modern architectural attraction in Koksijde is the "Cathedral of Light", also known as Our Lady of the Dunes, whose 20th century style is a departure in this country where most houses of worship are noted for their antiquity. For contrast against the newness of the Cathedral of Light, seek out the ruins of the 11th century Dunes Abbey, wrecked in 1566 by the Iconoclasts, and the old Ten Bogaerde Farm, featuring the ruins of a monumental barn. Another item of interest is the local museum dedicated to the work of Koksijde surrealist painter Paul Delvaux.
Oostduinkerke and Wulpen are boroughs within the municipal district of Koksijde.
