Koksijde through the eyes of the Zouaves (tour)

The first villas in the protected village view ‘quartier sénégalais’ were built starting in 1910. The beautiful cottages were mainly inhabited by wealthy Brussels residents who spent their holidays there. Tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog the vacant villas were occupied by the Zouaves. Deze Franse soldiers from the colonies in Africa with their bright red baggy trousers and headgear left a deep impression on the people of Koksijde. The uniqueness of the ‘quartier sénégalais’ lies in the fact that the villas have largely retained their authenticity. Many were signed by architect Gaston Lejeune, whose oeuvre is defining for the architectural history of Koksijde. Dutch-language guide