Unesco intangible cultural heritage: horse-riding shrimp fishermen of Belgium who are the last of their kind

The Belgian beach resort of Oostduinkerke is the last place where shrimp fishing on horseback is practised - and the spectacle is a sight to behold

Visitors curious to see how the shrimp taste often tuck in at a tavern owned by a shrimper family, opposite a fisheries museum, and a brewery on the coast

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A horse-riding shrimp fisherman drags the shallow waters at the Belgian beach resort of Oostduinkerke. The traditional practice was recognised in 2013 by Unesco as intangible cultural heritage. Photo: John Brunton

Published: 7:45pm, 12 Sep 2023

The Belgian beach resort of Oostduinkerke resembles a Victorian seaside postcard, with striped windbreakers, sunbathers snoozing in deckchairs outside retro bathing huts, children building sandcastles, and families playing mini-golf.

But this is also the last place in the world where the tradition of shrimp fishing on horseback is practised.

All activity suddenly stops when a parade of half-a-dozen giant Brabant dray horses appears, pulling rickety carts as they trot across the sand towards the sea, with each of the one-tonne beasts accompanied by a rider clad in bright yellow oilskins.

These are the paardenvissers, Flemish horseback fishermen who have practised their profession for more than 500 years, their predecessors having operated along the whole of the North Sea coastline, from Germany down to France.

The shrimp fishermen drag the shallow waters for around two hours, just before and after low tide. Photo: John Brunton

The last survivors are here in Oostduinkerke and were recognised in 2013 by Unesco as intangible cultural heritage.